The New England Revolution begin a four-game road stretch on Sunday afternoon when they visit the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field at 4:30 p.m. ET. It is the start of a demanding run away from home for a team that has been far steadier in its own stadium than on the road.
New England come in fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 10-7-4 record and 34 points after a 1-1 draw with New York City FC last weekend. Columbus sits 15th in the Eastern Conference at 5-11-5 with 20 points, and the Crew are trying to steady themselves after a 3-2 loss at Nashville SC and a 2-0 quarterfinal exit from Leagues Cup against Club América on Wednesday night.
That is why this match matters now. The Revolution have only two road wins in 2026, compared with eight at home, and this trip is their first test in a four-game away stretch. They also will be playing their last home game until September 19, which makes every result on the road carry more weight than it would in a normal week.
Matt Turner was one of the reasons New England left their last match with a point, making four saves against New York City FC while keeping his season total at five clean sheets. On the other side, Columbus has at least one fresh attacking piece in Josef Martínez, who joined as a free agent just over two weeks ago and has already appeared in the last three games, logging 84 total minutes. That gives the Crew a change option, but it does not erase the broader pattern: they have won four of their 10 home games this season, and they lost to New England at Gillette Stadium in April.
New England also have recent proof that this venue can work in their favor. They won at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field last season, and now they need the same kind of result to keep their place near the top of the East while they move through a road-heavy stretch. The next step is simple enough to state and hard enough to do: the Revolution have to carry their defensive edge with them, because the gap between their home form and road form has become the story of their season.
