GEODIS Preview: Nashville SC opens 2024 campaign against Moca FC in Concacaf Champions Cup

Concacaf Champions Cup | Round 1

Thursday, February 22 | 6:00 p.m. CT

Estadio Cibao Fútbol Club | Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

TV + Streaming | Fox Sports 2

Preseason is over, the 615 Kit has been revealed, and the Boys in Gold are in the Dominican Republic to open their inaugural Concacaf Champions Cup journey against Moca FC. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, Feb. 22.

1. New year, new competition – Nashville SC qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup by making it to the Leagues Cup Final in 2023. Though the Boys in Gold ultimately fell to Inter Miami CF on PKs, the team’s run in that competition has led them to this point. Nashville SC now has a chance to make waves in Concacaf’s premier regional competition for the first time. Meanwhile, Moca FC qualified through their third-place finish in the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

2. Potential debuts – After a busy offseason, a handful of new Boys in Gold could make their Nashville SC debuts Thursday night. Winger Tyler Boyd and McKinzie Gaines, as well as midfielder Dru Yearwood have all made the trip to the Dominican Republic and could make their first appearances in a Nashville SC shirt.

Tyler Boyd, one of Nashville’s new offseason acquisitions, could make his Nashville SC debut on Thursday. Boyd is a tricky winger who spent his first season in MLS with the LA Galaxy last year, where he contributed to 13 goals in 39 games.

Moca FC’s all-time leading goal scorer is 37-year-old Argentine forward Gustavo Ascona. Ascona has 27 goals across 59 appearances for Moca. Last season, he scored four goals in eight appearances on their way through the Caribbean Cup last season. At the other end of the pitch, left-back, Carlos Rossell, defensive midfielder Richard Dabas, center-back Kelvin Durán, and goalkeeper Miguel Adalis Báez played the most minutes in the squad with 720 minutes each.