BJ Callaghan believes the competition within Nashville SC's squad has contributed to their blistering start in the MLS this season as they prepare to face Charlotte FC next. 

Nashville are top of the Eastern Conference after taking 19 points from their opening eight matches in 2026, the latest of which saw them beat Atlanta United 2-0. 

The Coyotes are also unbeaten in 13 of their first 14 matches in all competitions this season (W9 D4 L1), though they come up against a familiar opponent this weekend. 

Callaghan's side come up against Charlotte for the second time in 25 days in the MLS, with Edvard Tagseth and Patrick Yabek sealing a 2-1 win for Nashville away from home. 

And when asked about what was behind his team's fast opening to the campaign, Callaghan credited the players as key to driving standards throughout the team. 

"For us, we have a really defined way with how we train and try to prepare for the opponent," Callaghan said. "For us, it's about us trying to turn that page every day. 

"There's good competition in the group, there's competition for positions. That keeps training sharp and everybody has a competitive edge, and we constantly stick to that. 

Callaghan did, however, reveal that there had been increased focus in the pre-match preparations for Wilfried Zaha, after the Ivorian missed the reverse fixture against them. 

"He's a top player in this league, and we have a tremendous amount of respect for him," Callaghan added. "He increases their dynamic and the team's ability in the final third. 

"So, for sure, we've had to put him into our preparation this time around because the last time that we played them he was not available."

Charlotte, meanwhile, have stumbled of late, losing two of their last three league matches, with Dean Smith's side losing 4-1 to Orlando City SC in their last MLS outing. 

Morrison Agyemang had cancelled out Luis Otavio's 21st-minute opener, but Orlando took the game after the break with goals from Martin Ojeda and Ignacio Gomez. 

The Crown had their chances in the match, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 1.36 from their 15 shots, compared to Orlando's 1.52 from their 11 attempts. 

However, Smith was left to rue the way in which his team defended, though the former Aston Villa boss was not too displeased by the performance from his players. 

"We actually played better than we did on Saturday in New York," Smith conceded. "But if you give the goals away like we did against Orlando, then you can't win matches. 

"They scored a toe-poke from 25 yards out with players moving out of the way, but last Saturday, we blocked those. It's not a great chance by any means. 

"For their second goal, we didn't recover as a team back to the edge of the box. The third goal, the goalkeeper has to save it. You should not get beat at your near post.

"After that, you end up having to chase the game that we had been pretty much comfortable in for the majority."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville – Hany Mukhtar

Mukhtar recorded his 35th career MLS regular-season game with multiple goal contributions with two assists on Saturday.

Since the beginning of Mukhtar's debut season of 2020, that's seven more such games than any other MLS player (Lionel Messi – 28).

Charlotte – Morrison Agyemang

Agyemang scored his first career MLS goal in Wednesday's loss as Charlotte's six MLS goals this month have been scored by six different players.

His strike also ended a streak of 35 straight regular-season goals scored by Charlotte midfielders or forwards, dating back to last July.

MATCH PREDICTION: NASHVILLE WIN

Nashville are unbeaten in three all-time home meetings with Charlotte, earning 2-1 wins in each of the last two seasons after a 1-1 draw in 2023. The only clean sheet kept by either team in the eight-match history of the series was a 1-0 home win for the Crown in May 2024.

The Coyotes have also opened a regular season with three straight home wins for the first time. All those victories have come by multiple goals as it is the fourth time the club has recorded three straight home MLS wins by two or more goals.

Charlotte, meanwhile, were tied at 1-1 against Orlando at half-time before conceding three goals in the second half. Prior to Wednesday, they had been unbeaten in 2026 when tied at the half (W2 D2) and lost just one of their previous nine such regular-season matches (W6 D2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville – 54.4%

Draw – 23.5%

Charlotte – 22.1%