Expect Nashville to line up in their usual 4-4-2, with Surridge and Saad leading the line. Callahan will want his midfield four — Espinoza, Tagseth, Corcoran, Muyl — to sit deep, stay compact, and force Miami wide. The full-backs, Najar and Lovitz, will be told to tuck in and not get caught upfield. This is a low-block setup designed to frustrate, absorb pressure, and hit on the break. Nashville are second-ball merchants, and they will look to feed off scraps and set pieces. Palacios and Woledzi at the back will have their hands full, but they are used to this kind of test.

Miami, under their usual 4-3-3, will dominate possession. With Casemiro sitting in front of the back four, de Paul and Bright will push forward, looking to thread passes into the half-space runners. Suárez and Silvetti will stretch the pitch, while Messi floats between the lines, looking for those pockets of space. The full-backs, Mura and Allen, will bomb on, creating overloads wide. This is a team that wants to knife through the lines, and they have the personnel to do it. But that attacking ambition leaves gaps at the back, and Nashville will look to exploit those transitions.

The midfield dogfight will be key. Nashville's double pivot of Tagseth and Corcoran will try to screen the defense and break up play, while Miami's Casemiro will anchor and dictate. If Nashville can win the second balls and deny Miami time on the ball, they can frustrate the visitors. If Miami get into a rhythm, they can carve Nashville open. The game state will likely see Miami with 60% possession, but Nashville will be dangerous on the counter and from dead balls.