James in urgent need of minutes: Will he make his MLS debut in Nashville?
A player still waiting to make his bow for Minnesota United, James Rodríguez’s next opportunity comes at Geodis Park this weekend.
With 10 days’ full training now under his belt, James Rodríguez has earned a second matchday call‑up from Minnesota United boss Cameron Knowles, as the Loons travel to Tennessee to face Nashville SC this Saturday.
In Minnesota’s third game of the Major League Soccer season, the expectation is that the Colombia star will finally log his first game time for his new team.
James and Minnesota touch down in Tennessee
The 34-year-old did not make it off the bench against FC Cincinnati last weekend, because Knowles felt the circumstances weren’t “ideal” for a player working his way back to peak fitness. However, after several more training sessions - and with the clear need for him to start accumulating minutes - Nashville appears set to be the first team to see the No. 10 take the field in MLS.
Minnesota flew to Nashville on Wednesday, with the Colombian headlining the Black and Blues’ travelling party. Knowles’ team has collected four points from its first two matches of the 2026 MLS campaign, having followed up a 2-2 draw with Austin FC by beating Cincinnati 1-0.
Signed in early February, on a deal initially running until June, James was not included in the squad for Minnesota’s season opener in Austin 11 days ago.
Colombia commitments coming up
Minnesota will play three more games before the FIFA international break at the end of March. James’ place in Néstor Lorenzo’s Colombia squad isn’t expected to be in doubt, but the attacking midfielder needs to see club action if he’s to build up match sharpness ahead of two important fixtures for Los Cafeteros: World Cup tuneups against European heavyweights Croatia and France.
After facing Nashville on March 7, Minnesota heads to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on March 14. In the final round of MLS games before international week, the Loons then host the Seattle Sounders on March 22.
Next stop: Music City@SunCountryAir | #MNUFC pic.twitter.com/oadzs9LbTE
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) March 4, 2026
When was James’ last club game?
James’ last appearance in club soccer came back on November 9, when he started in former team León’s 2-1 loss to Puebla in Liga MX. The one-time Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player notched an assist that day, before being substituted in the 85th minute.
Nashville vs Minnesota: kickoff times and how to watch
On matchday three of the 2026 MLS season, Nashville SC hosts Minnesota United on Saturday, March 7, with kickoff at Geodis Park scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. You can watch the game live on the subscription streaming service Apple TV.
Nashville has also kicked off the new campaign with a win and a draw in its first two games. B.J. Callaghan’s men opened up with a 4-1 thumping of New England Revolution two weeks ago, before a goalless stalemate with FC Dallas on matchday two.
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