Here are five storylines to watch for Saturday's away fixture as the Lions head to Nashville:
International Update
Orlando City SC had eight First Team players called up to represent their national teams during the recent international break. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau earned a clean sheet for Canada against Tunisia, while defender Tahir Reid-Brown joined the U.S. U-20s for March camp in Argentina. Midfielders Gustavo Caraballo, Braian Ojeda and Luis Otavio were called in by Venezuela’s U-20s, Paraguay and Brazil’s U-20 squad, respectively. Justin Ellis and Colin Guske attended camp with the U.S. U-19s. Forward Marco Pasalic featured for Croatia in a pair of international friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, both played at Camping World Stadium. Pasalic logged 21 minutes off the bench against Brazil and delivered a man-of-the-match performance against Colombia, starting the match and providing the game-winning assist.
Known Faces, New Team
The Lions will see two players return to BMO Stadium this weekend for the first time as Orlando City players. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau and midfielder Eduard Atuesta both previously played for LAFC, with Crépeau spending the 2022-24 seasons with the club and Atuesta playing from 2018-22 before returning again in 2024. Crépeau won the 2022 MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup with LAFC, while Atuesta claimed the Supporters’ Shield in 2019 and the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Crépeau joined Orlando City ahead of the 2026 season, preceded by Atuesta prior to the 2025 campaign.
Hitting the Cycle
With a match at LAFC on Saturday, April 4, and a home matchup against 2025 expansion side San Diego FC on Sept. 5, Orlando City has a chance to record at least one regular-season win against each of the other 29 MLS teams by the end of the 2026 campaign. The Lions have never beaten LAFC, with their 2020 MLS is Back Tournament meeting officially recorded as a draw, nor San Diego FC, whom Orlando will face for the first time later this year. Orlando City has recorded at least one win against each of the other 27 teams in league history.
California Memories
Saturday’s match will mark the Lions’ second-ever road meeting with LAFC, as Orlando City looks for its first win at BMO Stadium. Orlando City enters the weekend riding a three-game regular-season winning streak in its most recent trips to California. Over the past four seasons, the Lions have defeated the LA Galaxy in Los Angeles in both 2022 and 2025 by 1-0 and 2-1 scorelines, respectively, and beat the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 in 2024 at PayPal Park.
Black & Gold Against Purple & Gold
While Orlando City does not officially have a win against LAFC, the Lions defeated the Black and Gold on penalty kicks, 5-4, in the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament quarterfinals following a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation. The result is viewed by players and coaches as a landmark moment that sparked the club’s turnaround entering the 2020s. Orlando City has not missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs since that season, the longest active streak in Major League Soccer.
Milestone Tracker:
-Duncan McGuire’s next goal will be his 32nd for Orlando City in all competitions, passing former captain Nani for fourth all-time
-With an appearance, forward Harvey Sarajian would make his club debut
