By Ben Wright
MONTRÉAL - Even with the 2026 MLS Supporters' Shield freshly in tow, Nashville SC aren't satisfied. Far from it.
In fact, Saturday's 2-0 win at CF Montréal that clinched the second trophy in club history could be just a taste of what's to come by year's end.
After capturing the Shield as the best team of the regular season, Nashville are now eyeing the league's all-time points record of 74 - set by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in 2024. The Coyotes have 70 points with three games remaining.
And with home-field advantage guaranteed throughout the Audi MLS Cup Playoff up to the Dec. 18 final, the road to MLS Cup 2026 looks as favorable as ever for Nashville.
"It's our second trophy in two years, and I think we have done a really good job all together," club icon Hany Mukhtar, who sealed the result at Stade Saputo, told Apple TV.
"And yeah, we are ready for more."
Continued ascendancy
Nashville's Supporters' Shield feat builds on the success established under head coach B.J. Callaghan.
Since the former US men's national team assistant took over in July 2024, the Coyotes have quickly risen to stake their claim as one of MLS's top teams.
The club won the 2025 US Open Cup for their first-ever trophy, with superstar Designated Players Mukhtar and Sam Surridge leading the way. Marquee winter signing Cristian Espinoza added more offensive firepower in the offseason to complete arguably the league's most dangerous attacking trio, with 63 goal contributions between the three so far this year.
And with All-Stars Andy Nájar and USMNT goalkeeper Brian Schwake anchoring the league's best defense (MLS-low 23 goals conceded), Nashville turned the Shield race into a one-team sprint by the end of the summer.
"It's a huge step forward for the club and for the city," said Callaghan "... We know that the consistency and the body of work all year is what we want, but it also validates that the work that we're doing is good work.
"... We're constantly reflecting, refining what we're doing," added Callaghan. "... Tonight shows that body of work has occurred throughout the season. That's what that Supporters' Shield recognizes, the long-term season's body of work.
"And we know that we've got more work to do."
Stars shine bright
Fittingly, Nashville's star attackers stepped up on Saturday to deliver the win.
Surridge kept pace in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race with his 18th goal of the season, while Mukhtar bagged his 99th MLS regular-season tally to put the result beyond all doubt.
The captain has been in electric form, scoring seven goals in Nashville's last six matches.
"At the beginning of the season, we made plans that we want to compete for the trophy," said Mukhtar. "We want to make the next step for the club and for us as players, and I think we did a good job."
On the other end of the field, Schwake delivered his 14th clean sheet of the season, with Maxwell Woledzi and Jeisson Palacios forming arguably the best center-back duo in the league.
"You need timely goals from your attacking group," said Callaghan. "I thought for us to keep a zero and to be able to score two goals and manage the game in a really good way shows the experience that we've grown from the beginning of the season till now."
Not done yet
The Shield race is wrapped up, with Nashville tying the MLS record for the fewest matches required to secure the top spot. But the Boys in Gold aren't ready to take their foot off the gas.
With three games left, they're just five points away from breaking Inter Miami's points record.
And home-field advantage throughout the playoffs takes on an even greater significance for a Nashville side that tied the single-season record for home wins with 14, winning all but one of their home matches and remaining unbeaten through 15 games.
The Coyotes have outscored their opponents 45-12 at GEODIS Park, a dominant record at a stadium that's been fittingly dubbed "The Castle."
Should Nashville lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy on Dec. 18, they'd become just the ninth team in MLS history to complete the MLS Cup-Supporters' Shield double.
"Anytime we get an opportunity to play in front of our home fans, we are motivated," said Callaghan. "That is the connection that we have to the city, our club, and to the supporters. We love playing at home."
Nashville will unveil the Shield in front of their home crowd on Nov. 1, following their regular-season home finale. They're not planning on it being their final trophy celebration of the season, though.
"We know that people will come and support us and sell GEODIS out," said Callaghan. "It just makes it even more special."
WATCH: Mukhtar, Surridge lead Nashville to Supporters’ Shield