FC Cincinnati have clinched their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, but that doesn’t mean Decision Day has nothing to decide! Far from it. The Orange and Blue take on the Supporters’ Shield Champions, Nashville SC, on Saturday afternoon, looking to affirm their seeding and potentially climb the standings! Meanwhile, the visiting Tennessee side will be looking to set the MLS points record with a result of their own.
Riding a four-game unbeaten streak high, FC Cincinnati welcome Nashville SC to TQL Stadium on Saturday for the final game of the regular season. With the playoffs looming now, the Eastern Conference playoff picture is set. But where each team slots into the picture is yet to be determined. Nashville is confirmed to have the top seed, but from there, it is wide open. FCC could rise as high as sixth with a win, but all a win would guarantee is their current seventh-place spot. A loss, though, could see FCC tumbling down the table to eighth or ninth, and into the wildcard game.
“For me, we're trying to win a game to maintain a seven seed or jump to a six seed. That's pretty simple. That benefits us better than a play-in game. So, that's our motivation, and I don't think we need anything more than that,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said Thursday of the match. “In the process, if that keeps them from getting a points record, so be it. That's not my concern. But, they have something to play for, just like we do.”
Of late, FC Cincinnati have improved dramatically on the defensive side of the ball, earning two clean sheets in their last four games. They'll need to keep that up as they face one of the best defenses in Major League Soccer, where scoring may be at a premium.
But those improvements have come as the entire team has found ways to step up their game. A positive sign for the future as FCC look to be playing their best before their playoffs.
“I think the organization, how we initiate our press, I've talked a lot about how it's not all on the back line or goalkeeper in all these moments where we concede goals,” Noonan explained. “How do we initiate a press? How are we tough to play against? How do we make it clear where we can create these pressing moments? Our players ahead of the back line are doing a much better job, in my mind, of being tougher to play against, getting the organization right and the close connections better to be more specific about how we're stepping to the ball and what we're trying to eliminate. And I think that's why you see a couple shutouts. That's why you see less goals conceded, in general.”
FC Cincinnati kickoff at 4 p.m. this Saturday in a synchronized start to all of the Eastern Conference’s matches.
FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC – Saturday, November 7, 2026 – 4 p.m. ET – TQL Stadium
Watch/Stream (English/Spanish): Apple TV
English Local Radio: ESPN 1530
Spanish Local Radio: La Mega 101.5 FM
Playoff Scenarios
FC Cincinnati are guaranteed a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.
The Orange and Blue are one of three clubs who have qualified this year and in each of the
past four seasons as well (LAFC, Orlando City SC).
FC Cincinnati could finish anywhere from sixth to ninth in the Eastern Conference. The
scenarios for FCC to finish in each of the following seeds are below:
6 Seed: WIN vs Nashville SC AND Philadelphia Union DRAW/LOSS vs Toronto FC.
7 Seed: WIN vs Nashville SC AND Philadelphia Union WIN vs Toronto FC OR
DRAW vs Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew DRAW/LOSS at Chicago Fire FC OR
LOSS vs Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew DRAW/LOSS at Chicago Fire FC AND Orlando City SC DRAW/LOSS vs New England Revolution.
8 Seed: DRAW vs Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew WIN at Chicago Fire FC OR
LOSS vs Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew WIN at Chicago Fire FC OR Orlando City SC WIN vs New England Revolution.
9 Seed: LOSS vs Nashville SC AND Columbus Crew WIN at Chicago Fire FC AND Orlando City SC WIN vs New England Revolution.
FC CINCINNATI MATCH NOTES
(Courtesy of FC Cincinnati Communications)
Home Cooking – FC Cincinnati enter Saturday with a 9-4-3 record in MLS play at TQL Stadium. A win against Nashville would give FCC double-digit home wins for the second time in club history (2023, 13).
No. 10 – FC Cincinnati’s Evander enters Saturday with 31 goal contributions, only behind Lionel Messi (42) for most in MLS. He seeks to finish top-three in the league in goal contributions for a third consecutive season. He finished second in 2024 with 34 (only behind Messi’s 36) and tied for third in 2025 with 33 (only behind Messi’s 48 and Anders Dreyer’s 38).
The Big E – Evander’s 17 assists are tied for the most in MLS with Charlotte FC’s Pep Biel. He seeks to lead the league in assists for the second time in his career, when in 2024 he co-led with Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta (19). Evander looks to secure the third time a Cincinnati player has led or co-led the league in assists (2022 and 2024 - Acosta, 19).
Denkey Delivers – FC Cincinnati Designated Player forward Kévin Denkey has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, 17 in MLS play, meaning he is just one goal shy of matching the all-time club records for goals scored both in all competitions (22 - Evander, 2025) and in MLS play (18 - Brandon Vazquez & Brenner, 2022; Evander, 2025). Denkey, who has scored 39 times in his career for FCC, is four goals shy of tying Brandon Vazquez for the second-most goals scored all-time in club history.
Scouting Nashville SC (22-3-8, 74 Points, 1st in the Eastern Conference, W-D-W-D-W)
Nashville SC are on the cusp of MLS history entering Decision Day, having already locked up and lifted the Supporters’ Shield while also tying for the most points ever in a single season. Even only a draw on Saturday would give them the definitive title of the greatest MLS regular season in league history.
Led by Head Coach B.J. Callaghan, the side has achieved this by being essentially flawless at home and incredibly tough to beat on the road. They went undefeated at home this season, and have earned points in 13 of 16 road fixtures in 2026.
The side's strength comes from a combination of offensive firepower, a trio of stars and a stout defensive block that not only stops teams from scoring, but stops them from shooting.
Nashville SC has allowed the fewest goals in Major League Soccer this season, conceding just 25. They have also allowed the third fewest shots in total this season, snuffing out even the option for teams to score more often than not.
“I think, structurally, they're like most teams that are good against the ball. There's good connections,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of Nashville ahead of this match. “They close the space as well as the ball moves. I think because of how they attack at times, they can counter press in a really good way and eliminate being exposed in transition. And then when they have to defend deeper, I think they do a good job of getting that organization right and closing the ball.”
“So you see two different aspects of how they defend in my mind that make them successful, and that stands out with the counter press moments, and then just the organization to then press the ball, which, depending on the opponent and how they want to press, that can look different. But, they do a good job of limiting teams' ability to get in their box.”
Then when teams do get into dangerous positions, goalkeeper Brian Schwake is there to stop them. The American keeper, who recently got his first USMNT call-up, leads MLS this season with 15 clean sheets and has made 93 saves. He has made himself a frontrunner for Goalkeeper of the Year.
On the offensive side, the squad is led by former MVP Hany Mukhtar, who could be in line for another title this year, with 17 goals and eight assists this season.
“He's an exceptional player. I think he can impact the game in a variety of ways,” Noonan said of Mukhtar. “You watch closely his ability, forget time and space, but when he's in duels, how he uses his body to gain an advantage, to attack the goal is very impressive. His balance, just having a feel for what a defender is going to do, what he needs to do to win that duel, and then attack with space. That to me sticks out in a way that I think creates more opportunities for himself and for his teammates.”
He is one of three stars leading Nashville SC, with Sam Surridge and Cristian Espinoza alongside him in attack. Striker Surridge leads the team with 19 goals, while winger Espinoza leads the team in assists with 15.
Together, the three form the most dangerous attacking trio in Major League Soccer this season.
