Sports
Revolution’s New Era: Youth, Facilities and Ambition Drive MLS Push
The New England Revolution are preparing to host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF at Gillette Stadium this weekend for a Sunday Night Soccer match that carries MLS Cup Playoff implications. Head coach Marko Mitrović said the club has changed dramatically since he joined, noting that even the doors he walks through look different. He referred to the 68‑acre, $35 million training complex that opened seven years ago, which has transformed how the team prepares, develops and recruits players. The facility also supports medical staff, travel and a player‑care department that assists athletes and their families.
New England sits second in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield race, two points ahead of Miami. A win over the Inter Miami would secure the East’s second seed and a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The club has made five MLS Cup finals without winning, and the current season has seen the Revs win four straight games and seven of their last nine.
Mitrović, in his first year as head coach and first senior‑team role, emphasized a culture of never being satisfied. "We can have moments of happiness when things are right, or moments of sadness when things are wrong," he told reporters. "Being satisfied puts you in 'sleepy mode,' so we don’t want to create a satisfied mindset."
Goalkeeper Matt Turner praised Mitrović’s communication, saying the coach’s consistent messaging helps balance emotions and keeps players focused. Turner, who joined New England as an undrafted signing in 2016 and has since earned MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors and two World Cup appearances, highlighted how the coach challenges players differently.
The Revs have also turned to youth. 21‑year‑olds Brooklyn Raines, Ethan Kohler and Josh Wynder have become regular starters, while teenage phenom Peyton Miller has had a breakout season. Miller and Raines made senior USMNT debuts in September and were named in MLSsoccer.com’s 22 Under 22 list. General Manager Chris Tierney said the club’s focus on young talent offers both competitive and economic benefits.
After former coach Caleb Porter failed to lead the team to the playoffs, Tierney and his staff sought a leader who could reset locker‑room culture without overhauling the roster. Mitrović’s emphasis on intensity and the energy of younger players has lifted the team’s day‑to‑day vibe.
Looking ahead, New England is pursuing a new soccer‑specific stadium in Everett, Massachusetts. Tierney said a downtown Boston venue would be a “complete game‑changer” and help the club reach elite status in MLS. The project is still navigating political and logistical approvals but could be completed by the end of the decade.
Turner said the club’s growing fan base and the promise of a new stadium will help New England become a flagship for soccer in the region. "We want to create connections with our fans and put out a product on the field and in the stadium that everybody wants to come to," he added.