Nashville SC - Chicago Fire FC

Nashville SC enter this matchday 26 encounter looking to rediscover their momentum after a recent series of draws and a narrow defeat to Toronto FC. Their campaign has been defined by high-scoring home victories, including a dominant 4-0 win over FC Cincinnati in late August, though they have found consistency harder to come by on the road. The expected XI, anchored by Hany Mukhtar in midfield and Sam Surridge up front, will aim to leverage home advantage at Geodis Park to climb the table.

Chicago Fire FC arrive in Tennessee following a challenging run, including a 1-2 loss to the New England Revolution and a high-scoring 4-4 draw against Toronto FC. With Robert Lewandowski expected to lead the attack, the visitors will look to tighten their defensive structure after a sequence of matches yielding few clean sheets. As both sides meet on 20 September 2026, the focus shifts to whether Nashville can replicate their past attacking success against Chicago or if the visitors can disrupt the rhythm of their hosts.