Nashville SC now has a league-high four players on the 2026 MLS All-Star team after forward Sam Surridge was named to the 28-man squad on Wednesday. The Boys in Gold matched their 2025 total with the announcement, giving them the most selections in MLS this year.

Who made the cut?

Surridge, 27, earns his second straight All-Star honor after scoring nine goals this season—tied for fifth in the league despite missing eight of Nashville’s 14 games to injury. His nine goals include a hat trick and three two-goal matches, both league highs in 2026. Last year, he finished runner-up in the MLS Golden Boot race with 24 goals and was a finalist for the Landon Donovan MVP award.

He’ll join three teammates selected via fan, player and media voting in June: midfielder Hany Mukhtar (fifth All-Star), defender Andy Najar (second) and goalkeeper Brian Schwake (first). Mukhtar ranks second on Nashville in goals (six) and assists (five), while Najar is second among MLS defenders in assists with five. Schwake, a first-year starter, leads the league in wins (10) and has the second-lowest goals-against average (0.79) among starters.

Why this matters for Nashville SC

The All-Star quartet underscores Nashville’s standing as the Supporters’ Shield pace-setter. With 33 points in 14 games, the club sits one point clear of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and San Jose Earthquakes. Their 10-1-3 record is tied for the best 14-game start in the last 25 years of MLS play.

Nashville’s backline has been stingy, allowing just 11 goals—the fewest in the league—while Najar’s five assists lead MLS defenders. Mukhtar’s 11 goal contributions (six goals, five assists) rank second on the team, and Schwake’s six shutouts and 0.79 GAA are elite among starters.

What comes next?

The All-Star game takes place July 29 at 7 p.m. CT in Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium, where the MLS side faces Liga MX’s All-Stars. Nashville SC returns to action on July 17 at home against Atlanta United FC after a World Cup break since May 23.

Next up for the Boys in Gold: a road trip to face Inter Miami on September 12, 2026.