Three years ago the New England Revolution was as close to the top as it had ever been. The club broke the MLS points record as winners of the 2021 Supporters’ Shield, had the winningest professional coach in American soccer history on their sidelines and created a steady pipeline of proven players to replace talent sold to European clubs for millions in transfer fees.
A lot has changed since then, starting with the obvious: Bruce Arena resigned as head coach and sporting director in September 2023 after a lengthy investigation into alleged unprofessional conduct, leaving a void that the club has yet to successfully fill.
The Revolution had high expectations when they named Caleb Porter, one of only four coaches to win the MLS Cup with more than one team, as Arena’s successor. Still, Porter couldn’t pick up where Arena left off and was fired earlier this fall after less than two seasons when the Revolution failed to reach the playoffs for a second straight year.
The 2025 season came to an end last Saturday, with the Revs (9-16-9) finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference. That the Revolution have so much quality on the roster – and were so recently among the best teams in MLS – makes them a club to keep an eye on next year.
But whether they return to their former, more dominant form anytime soon will depend on how they answer some key questions this season.
Who will be the next head coach?
Revolution sporting director Curt Onalfo said on September 18 that he expected an eight-week timeline to find the club’s next head coach. That means Porter’s replacement could be named before the new year.
Porter’s longtime assistant, Pablo Moreira, led the Revolution as interim coach for the final games. He’s unlikely to be a candidate for the job given his 1-2-1 record in charge and his long association with Porter, with whom he also coached at the Columbus Crew, Portland Timbers and the University of Akron.
Little has been released about the candidate pool. Earlier this fall, former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin reportedly withdrew from consideration. The Revolution could go either way, although ownership has not appointed a permanent head coach without at least some prior playing or coaching experience in MLS since Frank Stapleton was appointed as its first head coach in 1996.
Which top players will return?
Onalfo and the front office believe they have a solid roster. A natural requirement for the next coach could be the tactical acumen to get the best out of the current players. New England turned over its roster last offseason with 16 additions and 18 departures and likely doesn’t want to go through a similar process anytime soon.
That said, there is always room for movement via trades and player sales. Andrew Farrell, who signed a one-year contract as player-coach last year, may retire. Hired winger Ignatius Ganago, who currently commands a salary of $1.3 million, may return to Nantes after battling injuries for much of the season.
New England can also look to its Designated Players. Captain Carles Gil is under contract in 2026 with two additional option years, so he will be back unless sold. Goalkeeper Matt Turner is on loan from Olympique Lyonnais but will return next season, with the front office convinced he can lose his DP tag through the use of targeted allocation money.
That leaves Tomas Chancalay, who came off the bench as a substitute for much of the year despite having a valuable DP slot. Chancalay was linked to Argentine side Estudiates in the summer, but those rumors quickly faded. His future at the club seems the least secure of the three DPs.
Another player to keep an eye on is central midfielder Jackson Yueill. He has a guaranteed contract worth over $1 million per year despite appearing in just 16 games. If the Revolution wanted to move Yueill, they would have to arrange a sale or trade or buy out his contract.
The bottom line: the Revolution has flexibility, especially if they lose one or two high-earning players.
What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
The Revolution suffered from mistakes all season, although an experienced tactician was able to get the players back on track. Last year’s glaring weakness was giving up early goals, so the Revolution may opt to strengthen the backline and defensive midfield. The team could also benefit from more attacking reinforcements. After spending the fall and summer calling up talent from Revolution II on short-term deals, the front office may see fit to add forwards or wingers to the senior team.
How will fans react in 2026?
One of the main reasons the Revolution missed the playoffs was their putrid home record of 4-9-4. For the most part, fans were treated to a litany of matches in which the revolution was undone by their own lack of concentration.
Still, the front office told the Boston Herald earlier this season that attendance has been trending upward year over year. With Gillette Stadium set to host seven World Cup matches next summer, Foxboro will receive unique attention next year that the Revolution will try hard to capture.
That said, fans haven’t been sitting still. Earlier this season, both of the club’s official supporter groups – the Midnight Riders and the Rebellion – protested at matches and called for changes in the front office.
Who from the Revs will play in the Football World Cup?
Speaking of the World Cup, the Revolution has a long list of international competitors. Barring injury, Turner appears to be a lock for the U.S. national team, although he may have lost his starting spot to New York City FC’s Matt Freese. Striker Leo Campana is currently in the player pool of Ecuador, which officially qualified.
Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf is also in Nigeria’s player pool, which remains eligible for qualification. Israel technically remains in contention, but striker Dor Turgeman and defender Ilay Feingold face an uphill battle to make the World Cup.
Revolution II goalkeeper JD Gunn is also one to watch. He is in the player pool of Panama, which has a strong path to qualification.
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