FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Given the overwhelming success of the New England Revolution this season, we knew this time would come, sooner or later.
On Saturday, the Revs’ time had come.
New England became Major League Soccer’s 2021 Supporters’ Shield winners Saturday, securing the original MLS club’s first league trophy.
And the Revs didn’t have to play to accomplish that feat.
With Seattle Sounders FC’s 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City Saturday afternoon, New England (21-4-6, 69 points) has clinched the league’s best overall regular season record. As Supporters’ Shield champions, the Revolution will host the 2021 MLS Cup final at Gillette Stadium Saturday, Dec. 11 should the team advance to the championship match.
The Revolution will be presented the Supporters’ Shield by members of the club’s official supporters’ groups, the Midnight Riders and the Rebellion, after the conclusion of New England’s regular season finale at Gillette Stadium Sunday, Nov. 7 vs. Inter Miami CF (3:30 p.m. ET – TV38, myRITV, CoziTV, 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2, Nossa Radio USA).
“This has been a truly special and historic season with the club capturing its first Supporters’ Shield title for our loyal and passionate fans,” Revolution President Brian Bilello said in a statement. “The entire Revolution organization is proud of what we have accomplished thus far and are looking forward to an exciting postseason run in front of our supporters with homefield advantage throughout the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.”
The 2021 Supporters’ Shield title is the Revolution’s third major trophy and the club’s first from MLS competition in its 26-year history. New England won the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, before being crowned North American SuperLiga champions in 2008. This season set new heights for the Revolution as the team has set new club records for wins (21), points (69), goals scored (62), and road wins (10). The team is also on pace to set new marks for points per game (2.23), goals per game (2.00), goal differential (+24), and more.
More history is still at stake over the final three contests before the MLS Cup Playoffs. With 69 points through 31 games, the most in league history at this stage of a season, the Revolution need only four more points to set a new MLS single-season points record (72 – LAFC, 2019). The best home team in MLS this season (11-1-3) and the second-best away team in MLS history (33 points), the Revolution are seeking to become only the third team to win 22 league games in regulation. In addition, New England’s 2.23 points per game pace and .774 winning percentage are both on pace to set new MLS records.
This marked the fourth Supporters’ Shield title for Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena, breaking his tie with Sigi Schmid (three) for the most regular season championships in league history. Combined with his five MLS Cup titles, Arena owns nine major MLS trophies, the most all time. Arena’s next win will tie Schmid for the most MLS regular season wins all-time (240). His regular season record with the Revolution stands at 37-14-22 (.658), with a 3-2-0 mark in the postseason, since he took the helm in June 2019.
The Revs will have homefield advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs. New England will open the postseason campaign at Gillette Stadium on a date to be determined in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup in the opening round.
