FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – This time last year, the narrative around Revolution II was quite a bit different, as they had just wrapped up the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with the fewest points in the league. Now, just 12 months later, New England’s second team is gearing up for the second playoff run in team history after a regular season which saw them match their single-season win record with a 14-7-7 mark.
Revs II finished third in the Eastern Conference table this year, wrapping up the regular season with a 5-2 Decision Day victory at Inter Miami CF II earlier this month. It was another big win for Revs II, who produced consistent results all season long. Moving on now to the Quarterfinal Round of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, Revolution II will host Chicago Fire FC II at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 19 at 6 p.m. ET.
“It’s just about keeping the guys focused, not looking too far, and putting the regular season behind us. We have to take it one game at a time now,” explained Revolution II captain Victor Souza. “We’re just focused on Chicago now. That’s been my message to the guys.”
MLS NEXT Pro operates with a ‘Pick-Your-Opponent’ playoff format, allowing the top-seeded teams from each conference to choose their opponents for the first two rounds of postseason action. With the third choice, Revolution II opted for sixth-seeded Chicago.
While New England have had a fire of their own burning beneath them this season, taking down Chicago will be no easy task as they hope to move on to the semifinal round. In the 2025 campaign, New England went unbeaten against Chicago with a 1-0-2 record.
As the postseason kicks off this weekend, a quiet confidence is building at the Revolution training ground, with the team fully trusting in their abilities ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
“We’re very, very confident in ourselves and I think we’ve shown this season, when we play some of the top teams, we’ve done well. We’re excited and we are ready to go this Sunday,” said forward Liam Butts, who set a new Revs II single-season record with 13 goals this year.
Butts attributes his record-breaking campaign to the help of his teammates, claiming the cohesiveness of the group is what’s helped them achieve so many milestones this year. Marcos Dias, named the first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Playmaker of the Year, set a new league record with 13 assists to bolster New England’s attack.
“We’re just a complete team. We score a lot, but we also have one of the best defensive records. So, I think the unity and the togetherness we have as a team is helpful in all facets,” said Butts, referencing Revolution II’s record of 37 goals against, tied for sixth-fewest leaguewide. “Apart from myself, everyone is dangerous. It’s not just me scoring the goals.”
While the first team prepares to host Chicago Fire FC on Saturday night to wrap up the MLS season, it will be a New England-Chicago themed weekend at Gillette Stadium. As the Revs look toward next year, Revs II are looking at the immediate task ahead. From this point forward, every game is single elimination. With a strong 8-2-4 home record, Revs II will hope to continue impressing the fans in Foxborough, beginning on Sunday evening.
“It means a lot to lead the team into this. I’m proud of the team and what we’ve been able to accomplish so far,” said Souza. “But really, it’s just the start.”
