After two forgettable seasons, including a 9-17-8 home record at Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution are eager to begin anew.
It’s just taken eight days longer than expected.
After last Saturday’s scheduled home opener with the Houston Dynamo was postponed due to the lingering effects of an historic snowfall, even by New England’s standards, the Revolution open their 2026 Gillette slate on Sunday afternoon against FC Cincinnati.
Late February’s weather event delayed the installation of freshly laid grass as Gillette prepares for this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Sunday’s faceoff will mark the Revs’ first home MLS match on grass since the 2006 season.
“We are looking forward to playing in front of the home fans,” New England coach Marko Mitrovic told reporters Wednesday. “It is always easier and better to play at home. … It’s an environment we are looking for to have a successful season at home.”
Mitrovic and the club could use any spark as they’re desperate to snap a 0-2-0 start and avoid an early-season crisis.
The Revolution are one of four Eastern Conference clubs at the bottom of the table with 0 points. They dropped a 4-1 decision at Nashville to open the season, then allowed teenage sensation Julian Hall’s third goal of the season in a 1-0 setback at the New York Red Bulls.
Leonardo Campana has the lone goal so far for the Revolution. He had seven goals while battling nagging injuries all last season.
Cincinnati offers the Revolution their first opportunity to “Defend the Fort” and get the 2026 campaign back on track, but it won’t be easy.
The Revs fell to the Orange and Blue, 1-0, in both meetings last season. Cincinnati’s defense has conceded an Eastern Conference-best two goals through three matches this season.
“Their certain style, they have played with for several years, they’ve changed certain personalities, but the way they play stays there,” Mitrovic said. “Obviously, they were very successful in the last few years in the league, and maybe they didn’t start the way they expected, three points from three games, but I watched their game yesterday against Tigres, they had a very strong performance.”
Cincinnati opened its 2026 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United but dropped two consecutive 1-0 decisions to Minnesota United and Toronto FC.
After the shutout against Toronto, coach Pat Noonan called his team’s effort “not good enough.” Cincinnati has now gone more than 180 minutes without a goal in league play.
But Mitrovic wasn’t referring to those contests. He was talking about Cincinnati’s dominating 3-0 triumph over Liga MX side Tigres UANL in their Concacaf Champions Cup Round-of-16 first leg match on Thursday.
Noonan concurs.
“I think there are certain aspects of our game Thursday and tomorrow that tie into each other,” Noonan said. “So, there are things that might look a little similar, both in some of our ideas, but also what we anticipate from New England. So, you want to bring the confidence and the good play into the next game.”
Kevin Denkey, who scored in the opener against Atlanta, had a brace against Tigres, while Tom Barlow scored as well.
Two-time Landon Donovan MLS MVP finalist Evander could return to the starting lineup after leaving early against Atlanta with a leg injury. He came on as a second-half substitute against both Toronto and Tigres.
Evander totaled a club-best 18 goals and 14 assists last season.
–Field Level Media
