Nashville Faces Philadelphia in Cup Semifinal Matchup

Nashville SC will play against Philadelphia Union on Tuesday night in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal, aiming for a spot in the final on Oct. 1. The winner will face either Minnesota United or Austin FC for the title.

This match is crucial for Nashville, who are looking to recover from a recent last-minute defeat by FC Cincinnati and continue their impressive Cup journey. After a strong 5-2 victory over D.C. United in July, this marks their first semifinal appearance, bringing them two wins away from winning their first trophy.

Nashville’s league performance has declined, suffering five losses in the last six matches, dropping them from second to fourth in the Supporters’ Shield standings. However, the Union, who lead the Eastern Conference, have struggled against Nashville this season, losing both league games by a total of 4-1. Despite reaching the finals three times (2014, 2015, and 2018), Philadelphia has not yet won the U.S. Open Cup.

There’s also a personal aspect to this matchup. Nashville coach BJ Callaghan, a candidate for MLS Coach of the Year, worked as an assistant in Philadelphia for five seasons before joining the U.S. national team staff in 2019. Since becoming head coach in Nashville in 2024, he has a 2-2 record against his former club, including their first-ever wins at home and away against the Union.

Nashville’s league campaign has relied on Sam Surridge, who leads with 21 goals, and MVP candidate Hany Mukhtar with 14 goals. In Cup matches, the situation has been different: seven out of nine goals have come from various players, giving the team a well-rounded offensive approach at this crucial time.