What Is 2022 New England Revolution season

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2022 New England Revolution season was their 27th in Major League Soccer, finishing 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 9–18–7 record and 34 points, failing to qualify for the playoffs.

Key Facts

Finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 9–18–7 record
Earned 34 points from 24 games played in the regular season
Head coach Bruce Arena resigned mid-season in July 2022
Cristian Penilla led the team with 8 goals in all competitions
Home games played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts

Overview

The 2022 New England Revolution season marked the club's 27th year in Major League Soccer, a campaign defined by inconsistency and managerial change. After a strong 2021 season that saw them win the Supporters' Shield, expectations were high, but the team struggled to maintain form.

Under the leadership of head coach Bruce Arena for most of the season, the Revolution faced challenges in both defense and consistency. Arena stepped down in July 2022, with assistant coach Clint Peay taking over as interim manager for the remainder of the season.

Gillette Stadium: The team played all home matches at their 65,000-seat stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, averaging around 17,000 fans per game despite playoff hopes fading.
Regular season record: They finished with a 9–18–7 record, accumulating 34 points from 24 matches, their worst performance since 2018.
Eastern Conference standing: Placed 13th out of 14 teams, ahead of only FC Cincinnati, missing the MLS Cup Playoffs entirely.
Managerial change:Bruce Arena resigned on July 30, 2022, ending a six-year tenure that included a Supporters' Shield win in 2021.
Top scorer: Midfielder Cristian Penilla led the team with 8 goals across all competitions, though no player reached double digits.

How It Works

The structure of an MLS season involves a regular season followed by playoffs, with teams competing for conference standings and qualification based on points per game.

Regular Season: The 2022 MLS season ran from February to October, with each team playing 34 games. The Revolution played 34 matches, finishing with 9 wins, 18 losses, and 7 draws.
Points System: Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The Revolution earned 34 total points, averaging just 1.0 point per game.
Playoff Qualification: The top 9 teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. New England finished 13th, missing out by a wide margin.
Managerial Transition: After Bruce Arena's resignation, Clint Peay served as interim manager for the final 10 games, compiling a 3–6–1 record.
Player Roster Changes: The team saw key departures, including Adam Buksa's transfer to Lens in France, weakening the attacking lineup significantly.
CONCACAF Champions League: As 2021 Supporters' Shield winners, they entered the 2022 Champions League but were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Pumas UNAM.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2022 season to the previous year highlights a steep decline in performance and standings.

Season	Final Record	Points	Conference Rank	Playoff Result
2021	22–9–3	69	1st (East)	Lost in Conference Semifinals
2022	9–18–7	34	13th (East)	Did not qualify
2020	10–8–4	34	7th (East)	Lost in First Round
2019	10–15–9	39	10th (East)	Did not qualify
2018	12–14–8	44	9th (East)	Did not qualify

The table illustrates a dramatic drop from their dominant 2021 campaign, where they earned 69 points and won the Supporters' Shield, to just 34 points in 2022. Injuries, lack of depth, and tactical stagnation contributed to the decline. The failure to build on previous success raised questions about long-term strategy and player development within the club.

Why It Matters

The 2022 season was a turning point for the franchise, signaling the end of an era and the need for structural changes both on and off the field. It underscored the volatility of success in MLS and the importance of sustained investment and management stability.

End of Bruce Arena era: His resignation marked the close of a successful six-year run that included multiple playoff appearances and a Supporters' Shield.
Rebuilding phase: The team entered a transitional period, focusing on youth development and potential new leadership in coaching and management.
Attendance impact: Average attendance dropped to 17,266 in 2022, down from over 19,000 in 2021, reflecting fan disillusionment.
Front office scrutiny: Questions arose about player recruitment and contract decisions, particularly after high-profile underperformance.
Future expectations: The poor season increased pressure on ownership to invest more in talent and infrastructure to remain competitive.
League competitiveness: Highlighted how quickly parity can shift in MLS, where even recent champions can struggle the following year.

Ultimately, the 2022 season served as a cautionary tale about the challenges of maintaining excellence in professional soccer, especially in a league with high turnover and competitive balance.