Nashville SC kicked off against longtime rival FC Cincinnati at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, November 7 at TQL Stadium, the final matchday of the 2026 MLS regular season.

Nashville SC's own preview calls it Decision Day, with the Supporters' Shield winners sitting just one game — and one point — shy of the all-time MLS points record.

The Tennessean's live blog reports Nashville (22-8-3, 74 points) equaled Inter Miami's 2024 record of 74 points with its comeback win over the New York Red Bulls on November 1, and could also set or match MLS bests for wins, fewest losses, goal differential and clean sheets.

BBC's live page confirms the match was underway with Cincinnati seventh in the East.

What makes this matchup remarkable is the gulf between the two clubs' seasons. According to Nashville SC's preview, Nashville became the first MLS side to clinch a playoff spot in mid-September, took the No. 1 seed in the East a month later, and won the Supporters' Shield a week after that.

The Tennessean notes Cincinnati entered at 12-10-11 with 46 points — a total Nashville SC's preview points out is fewer than Nashville's 47 home points alone. BBC's table shows Nashville with a 44 goal difference against Cincinnati's minus-6.

A record-breaking point on the road against a rival would cap what Nashville SC's outlet describes as one of the most impressive seasons in league history.

Nashville SC's preview frames the tactical centerpiece as a duel of playmakers: Cristian Espinoza, the Argentine winger who joined Nashville as a free agent after six years at San Jose, against Cincinnati's Brazilian dynamo Evander.

The club's outlet reports Espinoza leads the squad in assists, sits third in total goal involvements behind Surridge and Mukhtar, and is one of just two active players with 100 or more career MLS assists.

It says Evander has topped 30 goal involvements in three consecutive seasons and had a goal and four assists in his last four games. Nashville shut down Evander in its 4-0 August win at GEODIS Park, a rout the preview details and BBC's head-to-head records from August 30, 2026.

Beyond the record, there is real postseason spice.

Nashville SC's preview notes a Cincinnati loss combined with a Columbus win would drop Cincinnati to eighth, meaning these two could meet in the first round of the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs — which Nashville will host through the final should it advance, starting November 22 against the wild card winner.

The Tennessean lists the playoff calendar, running from November 18 wild-card matches to MLS Cup on December 18. BBC's lineups show B.J.

Callaghan naming Espinoza, Mukhtar and Surridge in a 4-2-3-1 against Pat Noonan's 3-4-1-2 with Evander and Denkey, with Tori Penso as referee.