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Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew preview: match details and prediction

The next Nashville SC match sees the Eastern Conference leaders host Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer on 23 August 2026. This Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew preview looks at kick-off time, venue, standings, form, head to head and prediction for this Regular Season - 21 clash at Geodis Park in Nashville.

With Nashville SC currently sitting 1st in the Eastern Conference and boasting an outstanding home record, this fixture offers the hosts another chance to consolidate their position in the MLS play-offs picture. Columbus Crew, down in 12th in the Eastern Conference, will be desperate to take something on the road to revive their season and improve a poor away record.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 21
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-23T00:30:00Z
  • Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Nashville SC come into this home game top of the Eastern Conference, ranked 1st with 46 points from 20 matches (14 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses). They have scored 40 goals and conceded 15, for a goal difference of +25. Their recent form string is WWDLW, underlining a strong run overall.

At Geodis Park, Nashville have been formidable: in 10 home matches they have 9 wins, 1 draw and 0 defeats, with 29 goals scored and 10 conceded. Away from home they have played 10 times, winning 5, drawing 3 and losing 2, scoring 11 and conceding 5.

Columbus Crew are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference on 20 points after 20 matches (5 wins, 5 draws, 10 losses). They have scored 28 goals and conceded 33, giving a goal difference of -5. Their recent form string is LLDWL, reflecting a difficult spell.

On the road, Columbus have struggled: in 10 away fixtures they have managed just 1 win, with 3 draws and 6 defeats, scoring 15 and conceding 22. At home they have 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses (13 goals for, 11 against), but that stronger home form will not help them here in Nashville.

Season statistics add more detail: Nashville SC have kept 9 clean sheets so far (3 at home, 6 away) and have failed to score only 4 times. They have also converted all of their 3 penalties this season (100.00% success). Columbus Crew, by contrast, have registered 3 clean sheets (all at home) and failed to score in 3 matches. From the spot, they have taken 4 penalties, scoring 3 and missing 1.

Head-to-head

  • 2026-03-14: Columbus Crew 0–1 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2026-02-11: Nashville SC 1–0 Columbus Crew (Friendlies Clubs)
  • 2025-07-17: Nashville SC 3–0 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-05-29: Columbus Crew 2–2 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-07-03: Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-03-31: Nashville SC 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-06-24: Columbus Crew 2–0 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-05-29: Nashville SC 3–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-04-02: Columbus Crew 0–1 Nashville SC (Major League Soccer)
  • 2021-10-21: Nashville SC 1–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)

The head to head record between Nashville SC and Columbus Crew has been closely contested, but recent meetings tilt towards Nashville. In 2026 alone, Nashville have beaten Columbus twice (1–0 away in MLS and 1–0 at home in a friendly). Nashville also recorded a 3–0 home win in 2025 MLS action, while there have been several draws, including 2–2 scorelines in 2025 and 2024. Columbus have shown they can trouble Nashville with 2–0 home victories in both 2024 and 2023, but traveling to Geodis Park has generally been more difficult for the Crew.

Team news & absences

For Nashville SC, W. Madrigal is listed as Questionable with a Lower-Body Injury ahead of this fixture.

Columbus Crew have several confirmed absences. W. Abou Ali (Knee Injury), S. Bangoura (Ankle Injury) and J. Thiare (Leg Injury) are all marked as Missing Fixture for this Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew match.

Key players to watch

  • S. Surridge (Nashville SC) — 12 goals in Major League Soccer 2026, a prolific attacking threat and one of the league’s standout finishers this season.
  • C. Espinoza (Nashville SC) — 3 goals and 8 assists, providing creativity and end product from the attacking line, key to unlocking the Columbus defence.

Prediction

The prediction model leans strongly towards the hosts. The Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew prediction from the data gives 45% chance of a home win, 45% draw and just 10% for an away victory. The advice is a clear “Double chance : Nashville SC or draw”, reflecting Nashville’s dominant home form and stronger overall season compared to Columbus.

With Nashville unbeaten at home in the league and Columbus struggling on their travels, all indicators suggest the next Nashville SC match is well set up for the hosts to at least avoid defeat, and potentially take another important three points in the Eastern Conference race.

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