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Nashville SC is red-hot to start MLS season, but can it get even better?
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- Nashville SC is red-hot to start MLS season, but can it get even better?
The first month of Nashville SC's season has been an undeniable success.
After demolishing Orlando City 5-0 at Geodis Park on March 21, Nashville (4-0-1, 13 points) is tied atop the Eastern Conference on points and has outscored its opponents 13-2. Include the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Nashville is undefeated through nine games for the first time in franchise history, with a 21-3 scoring margin. And it recently exorcised its most powerful demons by knocking Inter Miami and Lionel Messi out of the Champions Cup .
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But the final day of the regular season is Nov. 7 and the MLS Cup final is Dec. 18. What Nashville's accomplished so far boils down to one hot month out of a potential 10.
Nashville SC off to best start in club history
That's not a lot, but Nashville should understand that through experience. In 2025, it won or drew 12 league games in a row — tied for the longest such stretch in MLS — yet only finished sixth in the East. So it makes sense why coach B.J. Callaghan isn't concerned with building a similar unbeaten streak in 2026.
"It sounds boring and maybe cliche, but these guys just come to work each and every day," Callaghan said. "We turn the page, and we want to give a very consistent performance when we turn the lights on each match day."
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MORE: Nashville SC to face Club America in CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals
Just how consistent has Nashville been?
Although it has six shutouts in nine games, it has suffered through a few offensive off-nights, especially away from home. At other times, its designated-player attacking trio of Sam Surridge , Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza has been exactly as advertised. Surridge had a hat trick against Orlando and leads MLS with seven goals, while Espinoza scored the opening goal and contributed to a pair of Surridge's with curling passes from the right wing.
"(Espinoza) has been a great addition," Surridge said. "It's something I think we needed on that right side, where he's brought experience, he's brought goals, assists, and that's what we wanted from someone in that position."
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Nashville's attackers thriving together
Callaghan said Mukhtar, though he didn't get on the scoresheet, was just as essential to the win. The three have combined for 15 goal contributions this season.
"We're challenging each other to have a strong mentality, to have a winning mentality," Callaghan said. "I thought Hany Mukhtar led that, in terms of his energy and the encouragement and the demand that he gives the team . . .
"For people that watch the game closely, you can see how much, I call it 'dirty running,' that he does. He's running into the penalty box. He's dragging players. He's obviously a focal point on a lot of opponents, but now you're starting to see things open up for other players."
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Surridge believes Nashville has changed its mentality for the better in 2026. He pointed to a game last season against New York City FC , which Nashville dominated in the first half before easing up and blowing a two-goal lead to finish with a 2-2 tie. Against Orlando, Nashville scored three goals after halftime, including one from substitute Warren Madrigal .
"We want that relentless mindset where we're pushing and fighting and wanting to get more goals," Surridge said. "We want to give teams no hope when we go ahead."
Nashville looking forward to off week
Nashville won't play again until April 4, when it visits the Chicago Fire . Rather than squashing its momentum, the team believes having a week off will be beneficial, allow it to rest after playing five games in 15 days and give it a better idea on what it needs to sharpen.
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Against Orlando, Callaghan thought the team could have been a bit more "compact" in its press and made better runs into the penalty box.
"We play at a certain intensity where you need energy," Surridge said. "I think it's good for us. We're gonna have a break and look at what we can carry on improving. We know there's still flaws in our system. You look at obviously the Miami games, obviously Dallas and Columbus at points where we can be doing better. I think we can build on a lot."
That's a good place to be for Nashville, seeing as there's a lot of season left.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames .
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC off to record start in 2026 MLS season
