‘July BBQ written all over it': Do US Soccer's new kits hit the mark?
The primary kit, white with a star print, will be worn only by the US women to start. Dubbed the 'Brilliant Kit,' the marketing pitch says it's a 'tribute to the trailblazers who have shaped soccer and inspired generations. Star details are drawn directly from iconic past WNT kits, fused with a modern silhouette to reflect the optimism, leadership, and evolution of the game.' Does the kit accomplish this, to you?
I appreciate Nike saying the modern silhouette is reflecting all of those very nice-sounding buzzwords and not just 'we put this design on one of our current kit models instead of reproducing shirt sizes from 1999 because no one wants to run around in baggy polyester any more.' Are the star details from past USWNT that are referenced supposed to be the stars they got from winning World Cups? If so, that's a good flex. Unfortunately, the biggest visual reference this one conjures to me is the '94 men's denim kit (which the women did not wear – the USWNT and USMNT designs didn't match up until a couple decades later). I like the retro feel of it all and so that look-back-at-the-past direction succeeds. I can do without the rest of the blurb. AS
I think it does accomplish all that, though I imagine most, including myself, would say the most clear comparison is to the 1994 men's World Cup kit. It's got the same denim blue and a patchwork of stars. Though this time the stars look much less clip art-inspired. JF
This kit absolutely feels like a tribute to past generations of American soccer. On that front, they knocked it out of the park. The stars definitely draw the mind more immediately to the men's 1994 World Cup kits, though, as opposed to any star-laden WNT kits. That said, the women are the only ones with stars above their crest, so it makes sense for them to have a star-spangled jersey. MS
I mean … it's a white US home kit. I don't know that they're necessarily paying tribute to anything as much as they're maintaining tradition. And that's fine! Tradition is good. The kit is good. I appreciate that they're trying something different within the relatively narrow bounds of 'majority white.' I'm not sure who is going to be moved over the line from 'don't like it' to 'want to buy it' once they hear that the stars reference past US kits (which, as the others point out, feels like much more of a nod to men's kits of the past than anything). AA
Would you wear it? Why or why not?
I'm on the fence, if I'm being honest. It's a good swing at taking the white home kits and trying something different with them, but the texture of the shirt and overlapping star pattern feels more like patriotic napkins my mom would buy for a Fourth of July picnic than a shirt I really want to wear. I feel as if they're ultimately just fine, but not something I'd want to spend money on. AS
Yes, but I'd keep it reserved for match days. JF
This kit has July barbecue written all over it. Highly wearable, but definitely more of a statement piece compared to the away version. MS
This is the perfect example of a kit I would buy or wear depending on the memories that are made with it on the field. I think it'll be easy to wear it proudly if the US does relatively well. If the Emma Hayes era takes a drastic and unforeseen turn for the worse … maybe not. AA
The away kit – the 'Heartbeat Kit' – was created to honor the fans, 'the ever-growing, passionate community behind US Soccer … Designed with a heritage-meets-streetstyle aesthetic, the Heartbeat Kit channels the pulse of the soccer nation.' Does any of that seem apparent to you in this kit?
Heritage meets streetstyle. Farm-to-table fashion. I can practically taste the heirloom synthetic cotton used to spin these threads. And what is it that channels the pulse of the soccer nation? Pinstripes, baby! As a person that really loved the royal blue with white pinstripes USMNT kit from a long time ago, I'm down with rehashing that concept. But I'm going to need a map to figure out how we got from the kit design to this description of it. It's another retro callback, so I guess that's where the 'heritage' parts comes in? But they've lost me with the rest of it. This is channeling the streetstyle soccer pulse of a nation only if said nation is located inside of an Old Navy. AS
I don't know how it 'channels the pulse of soccer nation' but it is one of the most street-wearable kits US Soccer has released. Even the US Soccer crest and Nike logo feel unobtrusive and integrated into the design. JF
I think the 'heritage-meets-street style' approach comes through here. There's America-themed stripes, a pleasing mix of red and blues shades, and a design that is sleek and fashionable. MS
Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson
Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer
after newsletter promotion
When I think of 'the pulse of the soccer nation' and the 'growing, passionate community' behind US soccer, I think of something a little chaotic, loud, rough-and-tumble. I don't get any of that from this kit, which to my eyes is very refined and under control. If anything, the home kit says 'passionate' to me far more than this one. AA
Would you wear it? Why or why not?
Nah. The alternating colors of the pinstripes aren't doing it for me and I don't really like navy as a base color for the secondaries as it stands. It feels simultaneously too drab and too busy. Generally, I want a kit to either commit to either being clean with some nice details (like the centennial kits), or go fully brash and loud (the '21 stadium kits). This kit feels like it tries to do both, and ends up hitting neither target. AS
Every so often a kit comes along that I buy without a player name and number so I can wear it out on any occasion, this is one of those. JF
For sure. This one's both eye-catching but versatile. I think you'd get a lot of good wear out of it, in a variety of settings. MS
Definitely. As others point out, this one seems to be designed specifically to be worn in a non-game context, and it succeeds in that goal. AA
Overall, where would you rank this collection in the pantheon of US kits?
I don't like the secondaries, but the primaries are fine and the US has taken much worse swings. If the design hotstreak for the men between 2006 and 2012 is near the top of my US collection rankings, and stuff like the 2011 'medical scrubs' women's kits or those 2015 secondaries that looks like a bottle of antifreeze are on the bottom, then these are pretty middling, all things considered. Don't love 'em, don't hate 'em. I'll feel fine watching them on TV and not needing to wear them myself. AS
It's top notch. Perhaps due to nostalgia I'm partial to the USMNT 2010 World Cup kits and the spiritual sequel of the 2011 aways, which improved on color. Another favorite are the 2013 US Soccer centennial kits with their vintage crest. These new kits fall right behind those. JF
They're both easy on the eye, but haven't earned best-ever status just yet. I'd put them toward the top but short of my all-time favorites (I'm a Waldo loyalist with special places in my heart for the 2019 women's kit and those '94 World Cup denim things) for now. MS
I think they're certainly in the top half, maybe the top quarter. They thread the needle nicely by trying new things while maintaining tradition, and I feel like the designs will look decent in the stands and on the field. Whether they move up or down, again, will depend on the memories made in the next couple years. AA
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
30 minutes ago
- Reuters
Dustin Johnson chasing retro performance at Oakmont
June 9 - Nine Junes ago, Dustin Johnson captured his first major when he solved Oakmont Golf Club better than anyone else to claim the 2016 U.S. Open. As the Open returns to Oakmont for the first time since Johnson's triumph, the 40-year-old squints at the rugged layout in western Pennsylvania and sees a monster. He played the front nine Monday in preparation for Thursday's opening round. "The course is just as hard as I remember, if not harder," said Johnson, who finished at 4-under-par 276 in 2016 to defeat Jim Furyk, Ireland's Shane Lowry and Scott Piercy by three shots. When asked where Oakmont ranks on his list of hardest courses, the two-time major champion didn't hesitate. "Probably this one," he said. "I've played some hard courses, but it all depends on the conditions. This one's hard no matter what -- soft, firm, windy, no wind." Oakmont played at 7,219 yards in 2016, but the course has been lengthened to 7,372 yards for this season's third major. "It seems like it's tougher this time around, but that's just maybe with the little bit of added length," Johnson said. "But yeah, somehow I figured out a way to get it under par. It was mostly the driving. Obviously even driving it in the fairway here, it's still really difficult. But I hit a lot of good drives and a lot of good iron shots." As one of the first prominent players to jump to LIV Golf in June 2022, Johnson generally faces PGA Tour players only in majors. He has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors, which includes this year's Masters and PGA Championship -- though he might put asterisks next to those two. "Last two holes (at the Masters), bogey, double (bogey), to miss (the cut) by a shot, I think," Johnson said. At last month's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Johnson fired rounds of 78 and 76 to miss the cut by 11 shots. "I know my score didn't reflect it at the PGA, but I actually played way better than the score," Johnson said. "I just struggled a little bit on the greens. Well, maybe that's an understatement. I struggled really bad on the greens." But his putter likely won't determine how well Johnson fares this week at Oakmont. Instead, it'll be his driver. "I have confidence in this golf course because I know I played well," Johnson said. "But obviously this week puts a lot of pressure on the driver. I feel like I'm driving the ball really good right now." Johnson is coming off a T10 finish at LIV Golf Virginia, his third top-10 showing of the season. He has three wins on that tour, most recently at Las Vegas in February 2024. --Field Level Media
Reuters
35 minutes ago
- Reuters
Braves RHP AJ Smith-Shawver undergoes Tommy John surgery
June 9 - Atlanta Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Monday, the Braves announced via social media. Dr. Keith Meister repaired the ulnar collateral ligament in Smith-Shawver's right elbow in Arlington, Texas. Smith-Shawver, 22, will miss part or potentially all of the 2026 season as well, based on the typical timeline. He felt something pop in his elbow during the third inning of his May 29 start at Philadelphia. Smith-Shawver opened the month at the other end of the spectrum when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on May 5 versus Cincinnati. He finished with a 1-hitter over eight innings and earned the win in a 4-0 final. Smith-Shawver finished 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in nine starts this season. He struck out 42 batters in 44 1/3 innings. Still technically a rookie in 2025, he appeared in six games for Atlanta in 2023 and made one start in 2024. --Field Level Media
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Justin Thomas: Oakmont can make players 'look stupid pretty fast'
June 9 - Justin Thomas doesn't have a specific method for attacking Oakmont Country Club, widely considered to be one of the most difficult golf courses in the world, other than to maintain his patience. Thomas tied for 32nd the last time the U.S. Open was played at Oakmont in 2016. That year he carded three rounds of 3-over 73. The fourth was a 69 in the second round, which he called one of the best rounds of his life despite spraying his tee shots all over the course. "I think I hit four fairways, but I remember I hit seven greens and I shot 69. I chipped in three times. I was beyond exhausted when I got done," Thomas said Monday ahead of this week's U.S. Open. "I actually played with Brooks (Koepka) the first two days. I remember he was so pissed off. He just couldn't get over it." Thomas is anticipating long practice rounds this week, as players grind away trying to figure out every nuance of Oakmont's legendary greens. While he called them "some of the worst practice rounds of the year," Thomas also hopes that the lore of Oakmont gets in his competitors' heads. "Being perfectly honest and very selfish, I hope it psychs a lot of players out," he said. "It's a part of the preparation, like trying to go hit wedges or trying to get the speed of the greens or anything. It's getting a game plan for how you're going to approach the course mentally and strategically. "I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult. I also have faith that if I go play well and I'm driving the ball well and I'm hitting my irons like I know I can, I'm going to have a lot of birdie opportunities." Thomas, 32, hasn't enjoyed a ton of success at the U.S. Open, where his best finish was a tie for eighth at Winged Foot in 2020. He comes in ranked fifth in the world thanks to a win at a signature event at the RBC Heritage -- his first since 2022 -- and a pair of runner-up finishes this season. One of those came at the Truist Championship last month, but Thomas then missed the cut at the PGA Championship and is coming off a T31 at the Memorial. He arrived in Pennsylvania this week "shocked" to find how soft Oakmont's fairways still are due to the heavy rains the area has received. Thomas anticipates those receptive fairways and greens that still have some bounce in them will be much firmer come Thursday. And that's when the patience will need to come to the forefront. "If you just get lazy, like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt, you can kind of look stupid pretty fast, especially at a place like this," he said. "I just feel like it's a great week to be in a great place mentally and very, very patient and kind of picking our spots out there." Oakmont has undergone some changes since 2016, when Dustin Johnson shot 4-under par to win. Thomas admits he doesn't remember enough to compare the conditions to that year, but he would be more than happy to replicate that Friday round four times -- even if it means going to battle against Oakmont's brutally long rough again. "I would prefer to not do that," he joked. "But if that means I shoot 69 every day, I'll take four fairways and seven greens right now." --Field Level Media
