MLS taps into its past to create retro-inspired third jerseys for five clubs

Major League Soccer is drawing on its past – and beyond, in some cases – for inspiration behind new third kits for five of its clubs.

The kits, collectively dubbed the Archive Collection, were launched on Tuesday 16 July. Clubs to receive third kits for the remainder of the 2024 season include:

Inter Miami CF
Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Football Club
Portland Wood
Sporting Kansas City

Taking inspiration from the nostalgic style of sports broadcasts, advertisements, magazines and catalogues, the adidas x MLS Archive collection creates a unique narrative for each club. The collection includes jerseys, jackets and Gazelle boots that draw inspiration from the retro theme of each club’s city.

— MLSSoccer.com

The retro style of the new jerseys is reinforced by the team name and number on the back and wordmarks on the chest of each jersey. These wordmarks replace the usual club sponsor logos, which are moved to the back of the jersey, below the number. A retro MLS logo in jersey colors appears on the back collar.

“As this heritage-inspired series begins, MLS and adidas will explore the possibility of expanding the number of clubs that will have a third jersey in 2025 and beyond,” the league said in Tuesday’s announcement.

Here’s a more detailed look at each of the new jerseys:

INTER MIAMI CF

Inter Miami’s new third jersey draws heavily on 1980s nostalgia. The jersey is turquoise with tonal stripes on the front and sleeves. A coral border appears on the collar, cuffs and sides. The numbers on the back are white with a coral outline and drop shadow.

THE GALAXY

As the original MLS team since 1996, the LA Galaxy pays homage to the kit they wore during the league’s inaugural season. The front of the jersey is half teal and half black, with a starburst pattern transitioning between the two sides. The club’s original crest is on the left chest, and the “GALAXY” wordmark on the chest highlights “LA” with a line. The collar, sleeve cuffs and Adidas stripes on the shoulders are all red.

LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB

Having joined MLS in 2018, LAFC don’t have the same rich history as their city rivals. As such, their new third jersey draws inspiration from “the iconography of 1970s SoCal, the golden hues of the setting sun, the diversity of their people and the expansion of the club’s primary gold.” A brown stripe across the chest of the beige jersey features “LOS ANGELES” in a retro font with lighter stripes underneath.

PORTLAND WOOD

The new Portland Timbers third jersey dates back to 1978, after the creation of MLS, to pay homage to Clive Charlesa defender who was one of the first players in the English Premier League and joined the Timbers in 1978. The brown jersey has “Timbers” written on the front, and the white collar and sleeve cuffs have green and gold trim.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Before changing their name to Sporting Kansas City in 2011, the Kansas City Wizards were one of the original MLS clubs in 1996 and wore rainbow jerseys. Sporting’s new third jerseys hark back to that era with a zigzag rainbow pattern separating the light blue top of the jersey from the white bottom. A retro Wizards crest and “KANSAS CITY” wordmark appear on the chest. The sleeves are solid light blue with black cuffs and Adidas stripes, while the back of the jersey is solid white.