Following physicals on Saturday in Foxboro, the New England Revolution went down to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to begin the 2025 preseason.
The Revolution’s training camp starts Monday and will take place over five weeks. The club will play five preseason matches during their time in Florida.
New England will conclude their preseason slate with a final match at Gillette Stadium before the 2025 MLS season officially begins on Feb. 17.
As the matches are typically closed off to the public, there will be plenty of intrigue surrounding what’s happening behind those sealed doors.
The Revolution have had a major roster overhaul, bringing in nine new players to training camp with a 10th, Allan Oyirwoth, joining the team on Jan. 23, his 18th birthday.
The team will also try to work 19-year-old Noel Buck back in following his loan with Southampton.
Aside from bringing in 10 new players, New England also has to handle the departures of 18 from its organization.
Head Coach Caleb Porter has a lot to maneuver heading into his second year with the club.
Last year was disappointing for the former Columbus Crew coach. The Revolution finished second to last in the Eastern Conference and scored the fewest goals in the MLS while allowing the second most.
In his second preseason with New England, each match will present unique challenges and opportunities for Porter to navigate.
Here is one thing to know about each of the Revolution’s six preseason matches in 2025.
Jan. 21 , Austin FC – A superstar test
Brandon Vázquez is back in the MLS after a year and a half with CF Monterrey in Mexico. Austin FC spent big to land the former FC Cincinnati man this offseason, spending a club-record $10 million to bring him in for a Designated Player spot.
The US Men’s National Team forward was last seen in the MLS in 2023 when he scored 17 goals across all competitions. The year prior, Vázquez netted 19 goals for Cincinnati.
Now with Austin FC, Vázquez is poised to be among the league’s top goal scorers once again and will test out the Revolution’s new backline immediately.
If Porter and Sporting Director Curt Onalfo wanted to see how new defenders Brayan Ceballos, and Mamadou Fofana will fair against top MLS competition, Vázquez and Austin FC will let them know.
Jan. 25, St. Louis CITY SC – The future of the West?
The Revolution will play two MLS teams with new head coaches in the preseason. The first of which will be St. Louis who hired Olof Mellberg as the club’s second-ever head coach in November.
After adding German center back Timo Baumgartl in late November, Mellberg and St. Louis have high expectations for 2025.
In his previous stops, Mellberg led Swedish side Brommapojkarna to back-to-back promotions in 2016 and 2017 before coming back in 2023 to give them their highest finish ever in Sweden’s top division.
In St. Louis, Mellberg will look to right the ship after a down year in 2024 that ended in a 12th place finish in the Western Conference. In 2023 St. Louis was the best in the West and aims to get back there with Mellberg in charge.
The Revolution will be the first MLS team to get a look at how Mellberg will lead his new squad.
Feb. 3, Houston Dynamo – Coco is coming
Coco Carrasquilla is one of the most dynamic midfielders in the MLS and is expected to make a jump this year following the departure of Héctor Herrera. Facing off with a box-to-box weapon like Carrasquilla early in the preseason will be a major test for New England’s new midfield.
After the trade of Emmanuel Boating, free-agent signing Jackson Yueill has a chance to step into a starting spot, and seeing how he fairs against Houston and Carrasquilla will tell Caleb Porter a lot.
It will also be a chance for Noel Buck to really get his MLS legs back under him following his loan in England, and compete with Yueill to start alongside Matt Polster.
Feb. 8, Atlanta United – A big splash with cash
Atlanta is one of the league’s biggest mysteries still left in the Winter transfer market.
The club has two open Designated Player spots and is flush with cash after selling Thiago Almada in the summer for an MLS record fee that could reach $30 million.
The question now is, what will they do with all their money and those open spots.
With under a month until they face off with the Revolution, who Atlanta’s big signing (or signings) will be is still a mystery. Whoever joins the squad in the coming weeks though will definitely get work in against New England and is sure to be a major threat.
Feb. 11, Tampa Bay Rowdies – A break from trend
The Revolution haven’t played a preseason game against a United Soccer League team since 2019 but in February that streak will end.
New England will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies who have been a dangerous side in the USL since joining in 2017.
Over the last six seasons, the Rowdies have won two USL titles, and finished in the top four in their conference five times.
Not regularly facing MLS competition, the Rowdies are sure to step up and give the Revolution a challenge in their final preseason match in Florida.
Feb. 15, Hartford Athletic – A Hartford homecoming?
Homegrown Defender Peyton Miller made his first MLS start on Saturday night against FC Dallas.New England Revolution
Although the game is taking place in Foxboro and not Connecticut, it still presents the chance for Revolution defender Peyton Miller to take on his hometown squad.
Miller is from Farmington, Connecticut, less than 10 miles west of downtown Hartford where the USL club plays.
Though he grew up a fan of the Revolution, playing against his hometown side could be a nice boost for the 17-year-old in New England’s last preseason match.
It will also be a chance for Hartford Athletic to get one back against the Revolution who beat them in the U.S. Open Cup in 2023.
