We’re just two matchdays into the 2026 season, and Minnesota United has an unbeaten record and a whole lot of momentum to show for it. Riding the high of a massive home victory to kick off Year 10, the Loons now take that energy all the way down to Tennessee, where they’ll look to find three points against yet another big Eastern Conference contender. Grab your cowboy hats and start learning those line dances, folks, because your Loons are headed down to Music City.

Run of Form

Minnesota United FC
Run of Form: D-W

After a solid amount of turnover this offseason, this Minnesota side was untested approaching the 2026 season — new players, new coaching staff, new playstyle. But they’ve taken to it like a loon to water, securing four points in two matches so far and already establishing some tried-and-true chemistry with some of the new faces on the squad. A comeback draw in Austin followed by a big home opener win against FC Cincinnati? Not too shabby.

Nashville SC
Run of Form: W-W-W-D (All Competitions)

The Coyotes have netted the same number of points as Minnesota so far this season, finding a 4-1 win against New England and holding Dallas to a scoreless draw. Last year’s Golden Boot contender Sam Surridge scored a brace in the season opener, and keeper Brian Schwake has allowed just one goal in four matches across all competitions. With veteran winger Cristian Espinoza joining the ranks and a steady four-man back line, Nashville is shaping up to be a formidable Eastern opponent.

Keys to the Match:

The New Approach

It’s become clear in just two matches that Cameron Knowles’ play strategy is markedly more aggressive than what we saw from the Loons in 2025. Last season’s low-possession, defensive structure may have been effective, but at a certain point the rest of the league knew what to expect from the Black and Blue. This time around, Minnesota is a lot less predictable. Tomás Chancalay is settling well into his role up front, combining nicely with Joaquín Pereyra and Nectarios Triantis to engineer some creative opportunities on the ball. Kelvin Yeboah has scored twice in as many games, looking a lot more like the DP-level striker that set the league on fire in 2024.

One thing hasn’t changed at all, though: Minnesota is still lethal on set pieces.

Picking Priorities

Nashville’s been busy lately with Concacaf Champions Cup, shutting down Ottawa with an aggregate 7-0. On Wednesday, they’ll have a much more difficult opponent, going up against an Inter Miami side that seems to have found its groove again in the second half of a Florida Derby on Matchday 2. As far as squad rotation goes, four tough matchups in the span of 12 days means B.J. Callaghan needs to decide if he wants his strong starters like Surridge and Espinoza giving their all in MLS or CCC play. As we saw over the weekend, the side struggled to convert without Surridge up front (who missed the contest due to illness), even with Hany Mukhtar and Warren Madrigal leading the charge. Against Minnesota, it’ll be a question of available personnel and whether those players can find the on-field chemistry necessary to hit the back of the net.

Mark Your Callenders

See what I did there? Goalkeeper Drake Callender has already established himself as a big presence in the net, shutting out Cincinnati and rightfully earning his spot on the Team of the Matchday bench over the weekend. He logged five saves on Saturday alone and has been fantastic in distribution, helping the squad navigate the transition from a back five to a back four. If you weren’t watching that Cincinnati game, check this out and just let his saves speak for themselves.

Going Deeper

A fourth key to the match? Crazy, I know, but there’s just so much to talk about. The Loons have several strong players who haven’t seen much or any playing time yet, including Nicolás Romero, Peter Stroud, Dominik Fitz, Owen Gene, and James Rodríguez. How will Coach Knowles navigate so much talent competing for not just a spot in the starting XI, but even to make the matchday roster? You wouldn’t expect the gaffer to do too much tinkering to a lineup fresh off a big home victory. However, injuries and game situations have a way of presenting new opportunities. Captain Michael Boxall came off the field after a hit to the face this weekend, which begs the question of whether he’ll be available on Saturday. If not, names like Devin Padelford, Romero, or Carlos Harvery may get the nod to start in his place. We also have yet to see Rodríguez make his MLS debut. If he does so this weekend, will he start or come off the bench? There are a whole lot of options for how the Loons take shape at GEODIS Park this Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. CT.