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Nashville SC Leads MLS With Four All-Star Selections, Sam Surridge Earns Second Consecutive Nod
Sam Surridge has earned a place among MLS’s elite, and Nashville SC is now the league’s most represented club with four All‑Star selections. The forward was named to the 28‑player roster on Wednesday, making him the second straight year to earn an All‑Star nod and giving the club a league‑high tally.
At 27, Surridge has scored nine goals in 14 MLS matches this season, a total that ties him for fifth in the league. He has appeared in only eight of Nashville’s 14 games because of injury, yet he leads the competition in multi‑goal performances with four, including one hat‑trick and three two‑goal games. In 2025 he finished as the runner‑up in the MLS Golden Boot race with 24 goals and was a finalist for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. Over his MLS regular‑season career, he has 47 goals and seven assists in 79 matches.
The other three selections were chosen through fan, player, and media voting announced on June 4. Midfielder Hany Mukhtar earned his fifth All‑Star appearance, defender Andy Najar his second, and goalkeeper Brian Schwake his first. Mukhtar is Nashville’s second‑leading scorer with six goals and fifth in assists with five, and he shares the top spot in goal contributions with 11. Najar is second among MLS defenders in assists this season with five, and he has helped Nashville’s backline allow only 11 goals, the fewest in the league. Schwake, a first‑year starter, leads the league in wins this year with 10, has the second‑most shutouts (six), and the second‑lowest goals‑against average among starting goalkeepers at 0.79.
The All‑Star Game will pit the MLS All‑Stars against a squad of Liga MX All‑Stars on July 29 at Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time and will give Nashville’s representatives a national stage before the club’s return to regular‑season play.
Nashville has been inactive since May 23 because of the league’s World Cup break. The club will resume competition on July 17 in a home match against Atlanta United FC. The Boys in Gold are currently 10‑1‑3, tied for the best 14‑game start in the last 25 years of MLS play. Their 33 points are the highest in the Supporters’ Shield standings, one point ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the San Jose Earthquakes.
With four All‑Star selections, Nashville is the only MLS club to have more than three players named to the roster in 2026. The club’s strong offensive and defensive performances this season have positioned it as a contender for the Supporters’ Shield and a deep playoff run. The All‑Star Game will not affect league standings, but it will showcase the league’s top performers and offer fans a mid‑season spectacle.
As Nashville prepares for its July 17 return, the team will focus on regaining match fitness and integrating the returning players after the World Cup break. The club’s management and coaching staff have emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and staying competitive in the Eastern Conference.
In summary, Sam Surridge’s second consecutive All‑Star selection underscores his consistent goal‑scoring ability despite limited appearances. The club’s four All‑Star selections reflect Nashville’s overall strength and its position at the top of the league’s standings. The upcoming All‑Star Game on July 29 will feature Nashville’s representatives against Liga MX talent, and the team will resume regular‑season play on July 17 against Atlanta United FC.
At 27, Surridge has scored nine goals in 14 MLS matches this season, a total that ties him for fifth in the league. He has appeared in only eight of Nashville’s 14 games because of injury, yet he leads the competition in multi‑goal performances with four, including one hat‑trick and three two‑goal games. In 2025 he finished as the runner‑up in the MLS Golden Boot race with 24 goals and was a finalist for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. Over his MLS regular‑season career, he has 47 goals and seven assists in 79 matches.
The other three selections were chosen through fan, player, and media voting announced on June 4. Midfielder Hany Mukhtar earned his fifth All‑Star appearance, defender Andy Najar his second, and goalkeeper Brian Schwake his first. Mukhtar is Nashville’s second‑leading scorer with six goals and fifth in assists with five, and he shares the top spot in goal contributions with 11. Najar is second among MLS defenders in assists this season with five, and he has helped Nashville’s backline allow only 11 goals, the fewest in the league. Schwake, a first‑year starter, leads the league in wins this year with 10, has the second‑most shutouts (six), and the second‑lowest goals‑against average among starting goalkeepers at 0.79.
The All‑Star Game will pit the MLS All‑Stars against a squad of Liga MX All‑Stars on July 29 at Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time and will give Nashville’s representatives a national stage before the club’s return to regular‑season play.
Nashville has been inactive since May 23 because of the league’s World Cup break. The club will resume competition on July 17 in a home match against Atlanta United FC. The Boys in Gold are currently 10‑1‑3, tied for the best 14‑game start in the last 25 years of MLS play. Their 33 points are the highest in the Supporters’ Shield standings, one point ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the San Jose Earthquakes.
With four All‑Star selections, Nashville is the only MLS club to have more than three players named to the roster in 2026. The club’s strong offensive and defensive performances this season have positioned it as a contender for the Supporters’ Shield and a deep playoff run. The All‑Star Game will not affect league standings, but it will showcase the league’s top performers and offer fans a mid‑season spectacle.
As Nashville prepares for its July 17 return, the team will focus on regaining match fitness and integrating the returning players after the World Cup break. The club’s management and coaching staff have emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and staying competitive in the Eastern Conference.
In summary, Sam Surridge’s second consecutive All‑Star selection underscores his consistent goal‑scoring ability despite limited appearances. The club’s four All‑Star selections reflect Nashville’s overall strength and its position at the top of the league’s standings. The upcoming All‑Star Game on July 29 will feature Nashville’s representatives against Liga MX talent, and the team will resume regular‑season play on July 17 against Atlanta United FC.
