Revolution kick off new era against ambitious Nashville

New England looks to bounce back from consecutive losing seasons as Nashville aims to build on last year's playoff return

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Nashville SC and the visiting New England Revolution took different offseason routes ahead of their season-opening matchup on Saturday night. After missing the MLS playoffs for the first time in 2024, Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan led the club to a 16-12-6 mark (54 points) last season and a return to postseason play. New England, meanwhile, is out to remove the bad taste that consecutive losing seasons has left, naming Marko Mitrovic as the new head coach after Caleb Porter's firing.

Why it matters

This matchup features two Eastern Conference clubs heading in opposite directions. Nashville is looking to build on its successful 2025 campaign and cement itself as one of the top teams in the East, while New England is hoping a coaching change can help the club bounce back from back-to-back losing seasons and return to the playoffs.

The details

Nashville rewarded head coach B.J. Callaghan with a contract extension through the 2028-29 season after he led the club to a 16-12-6 record and a return to the playoffs in 2025. The team is led by striker Sam Surridge, who scored 24 goals last season, and midfielder Hany Mukhtar, who added 16 goals. New England, meanwhile, is under new leadership with Marko Mitrovic taking over as head coach after the Revolution finished 9-16-9 in 2025. The club did sign midfielder Carles Gil, its all-time leader in assists and goal contributions, to a contract extension through 2028.

  • The 2026 MLS season kicks off on Saturday, February 22.

The players

B.J. Callaghan

The head coach of Nashville SC, who was recently rewarded with a contract extension through the 2028-29 season after leading the club to the playoffs in 2025.

Sam Surridge

The 27-year-old striker for Nashville SC, who scored 24 goals in 2025, tying him for second-most in MLS.

Hany Mukhtar

The veteran midfielder for Nashville SC, who has spent the last seven seasons with the club and scored 16 goals in 2025.

Marko Mitrovic

The new head coach of the New England Revolution, taking over after the club missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Carles Gil

The captain of the New England Revolution and the club's all-time leader in assists (87) and goal contributions (136), who recently signed a contract extension through 2028.

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What they’re saying

“We're an ambitious club and we have ambitious ownership. I don't think there's any limit on where I want this group to go. In professional sports, the ultimate (goal) is to win as many times as you can, win as many trophies as you can. I think we're building something here that I think can be a long-term sustainable model in the league. That's why I'm really proud to be able to continue with Nashville.”

— B.J. Callaghan, Head Coach, Nashville SC

“This is a working group that is ready and open to receiving new things and trying to implement that immediately on the field. Nashville is a team that is very well-coached. I appreciate B.J. Callaghan. He's a friend of mine and I really appreciate him as a coach. He's a person that has a high knowledge about the game and he's shown that in the last 18 months in how he's transformed Nashville into one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.”

— Marko Mitrovic, Head Coach, New England Revolution

What’s next

The season-opening match between Nashville SC and the New England Revolution is scheduled for Saturday, February 22.

The takeaway

This matchup features two Eastern Conference clubs heading in opposite directions, with Nashville looking to build on its successful 2025 campaign and New England hoping a coaching change can help the club bounce back from back-to-back losing seasons and return to the playoffs.