2023 Nashville SC season

Nashville SC
2023 season
General managerMike Jacobs
Head coachGary Smith
StadiumGeodis Park
MLSConference: 7th
Overall: 12th
MLS Cup PlayoffsRound One
U.S. Open CupRound of 16
Leagues CupRunners-up
Average home league attendance28,257[1]
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 Nashville SC season was the fourth season for Nashville SC as a member of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional soccer in the United States. After finishing the 2022 season with a playoff berth and a first round exit,[2] the club loaned out Designated Player and forward Aké Arnaud Loba to Mazatlán F.C. and made trades to add depth.[3][4] Midfielder Hany Mukhtar had finished the previous season as the league's top goalscorer, earning the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals, and was also won the most valuable player award.[5]

The club moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference for the 2023 season and played 34 regular season matches between February 25 and October 21.[6] The team opened their preseason training camp on January 9 in Tampa, Florida, and played several friendly matches in Florida.[7] Nashville SC also participated in the Leagues Cup, a knockout competition for all MLS and Liga MX clubs in July and August.[8] They finished as runners-up, hosting the Leagues Cup final against Inter Miami CF and losing in a penalty shootout.[9] The club entered the U.S. Open Cup in the third round and advanced to the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Miami.[10][11]

Nashville qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs—their fourth consecutive postseason—by finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference.[12] They were eliminated in the first round by Orlando City SC, losing the first two games in the best-of-three series by a 1–0 scoreline.[13]

  1. ^ Kennedy, Paul (October 22, 2023). "MLS breaks attendance record". Soccer America. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Hills, Drake (October 15, 2022). "Nashville SC 2022 season ends with 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy in MLS Cup Playoffs". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Bogert, Tom (February 19, 2023). "Nashville SC 2023 Season Preview". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Hills, Drake (January 23, 2023). "Three key position battles to watch for Nashville SC in 2023 preseason". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "MLS MVP: Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar wins award in landslide". ESPN. November 1, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Hills, Drake (December 20, 2022). "Nashville SC MLS schedule 2023: Here's all 34 regular season games, starting Feb. 25". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nashville Soccer Club Announces 2023 Preseason Schedule" (Press release). Nashville SC. January 6, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Hills, Drake (March 9, 2023). "Nashville SC unveils 2023 Leagues Cup schedule for games vs. Colorado Rapids, Toluca". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Kaufman, Michelle (August 20, 2023). "Messi scores, Callender shines, Inter Miami wins Leagues Cup in 11-round PK shootout". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Explained". Nashville SC. April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Sklar, Sam (August 15, 2023). "Inter Miami, Lionel Messi to face Nashville SC on the road in Leagues Cup final". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Shames, Jacob (October 27, 2023). "Why Nashville SC feels 'no stress' going into fourth MLS Cup Playoffs in four seasons". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Shames, Jacob (November 7, 2023). "Nashville SC eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs after being shut out by Orlando City". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 15, 2024.