SARASOTA, Fla. – For Leo Campana, 2026 is a very big year. Like everyone on the New England Revolution roster, he enters preseason with a hunger to improve upon last year, but the 25-year-old forward’s ambitions stretch beyond club play. Campana begins the new year not only motivated by the past, but also driven by the chance to perform on the world’s biggest stage, as he hopes to secure a spot with Ecuador for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.

“It’s a very different year. First of all, I wanted to come in with all the energy I have to change the things we did last year, but obviously having the World Cup around the corner, it’s something extra I think of when I am training, working, recovering, everything,” he said from the Revolution’s preseason camp in Florida. “For me to be there, I have to start by doing good things here with my team. That’s what will help me fight for a spot in the World Cup.”

Campana, who struggled with injuries last season, missed out on the consistent performances he was hoping for when he joined the Revs in a high-profile move from Inter Miami ahead of 2025. While he was second on the Revolution scoring charts with seven goals and one assist, he holds himself to a higher standard. This year, he’s focused on staying fit, both mentally and physically.

He wasted no time preparing for the year ahead. Now reunited with his teammates as they begin preseason at IMG Academy, Campana had already been hard at work long before reporting last week. After a short stretch of well‑earned rest and travel with his family, he spent the offseason training, building strength, caring for his body, and sharpening his mindset for what could be a pivotal year in his career.

“I traveled for the first 10 or 12 days, but then everything was about my training. I knew I had a lot of time before preseason to prepare myself, but I didn’t want to lose any rhythm. I want to get stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually,” he explained. “So, I worked really hard, that’s the only way to achieve what you want, to work hard.”

For an attacking player like Campana, who is shifting his mentality and full of fervor for the season ahead, new Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović brings just the energy he needs. With Mitrović’s vision for a relentlessly attacking team, both on and off the ball, it feels like his guidance could be a potent match for a striker who is determined to make a big impact this year.

Already owning 20 caps with his native Ecuador, Campana most recently scored for his country during a 2-0 friendly win over New Zealand in November, as he and La Tricolor continued their preparations after securing World Cup qualification last June.

Now, he’s focused on making an impact for both club and country, convinced one will follow the other.

“It’s going to be a special year. My priority is to play the most amount of games, score a lot more than last year, and to make history with my team. I want to bring a lot more leadership, help my teammates, and just be a positive leader,” Campana said. “I thank the fans for all of the support. It wasn’t enough what we did last year, but this year is going to be different. To my Ecuadorian people, I say the same. I feel their support and it keeps this hunger and motivation to keep going alive and put the flag of my country on top.”