After months of anticipation, MLS released its 2024 third kits, which, while only for a handful of teams, is a fantastic blast from the past. We grade every new retro-inspired design.
As football constantly looks backwards for inspiration and nostalgia, MLS is a league that often comes up. The wild penalty shootouts it used to employ, the iconic players who ventured out to the States, and most importantly for today’s article: the kits.
The kits of USA’s yesteryear are revered among collectors worldwide, despite the league not being one of the biggest. What seems to be the driver for these kits being popular are their unique designs and their rarity in the wild. You know someone is committed to kit collecting if they’re seen rocking a throwback MetroStars or Kansas City Wizards shirt.
So, as seemingly is the trend from adidas at the moment — with their Predator and F50 relaunches — the brand has thrown it back and brought us the MLS Archive Collection.
In addition to a retro-inspired kit, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Portland Timbers, and Inter Miami received a track jacket and pair of Gazelles. Let’s go through them all to give each kit a grade.
Sporting Kansas City: 7/10
This one is a proper throwback. Sporting Kansas City has even brought back the classic Wizards crest, which is a major bonus. The kit itself is pretty average, apart from the rainbow bolt feature across the middle. The collar isn’t exactly awe-inspiring, which prevents this kit from scoring any higher. The accompanying jacket though, is a straight 10.
Portland Timbers: 9/10
The Timbers’ archive kit comes in with a big score. The color is beautiful, “sponsor” font is wonderful, and that collar left me swooning. It’s inspired by Clive Charles, the first black player in the Premier League, who joined the Timbers in 1978, becoming one of the biggest names in Portland sport. Now, where do I get the jacket?! (Seems to be a trend here, doesn’t there?)
LA Galaxy 6/10
While Kansas City’s Archive kit is certainly heavily inspired by the iconic ’90s Wizards designs, the Galaxy’s is closer to a like-for-like revival of their inaugural home shirt from the 1996 season. And while the remake comes close, it’s not much to shout about, because it doesn’t beat the original. The v-neck attempt compared to the classic shirt is poor and looks rather flimsy. Not for me.
LAFC: 7/10
As a newer club, LAFC doesn’t have the archive to look back on like the previous three MLS clubs that received third kits. Instead, adidas and the club took inspiration from Southern California in the ’70s, and delivered this groovy number. Golden hues represent the ever-present SoCal sun, and the LAFC “sponsor” font evokes images of the LA Aztecs that played in the NASL and featured legends like George Best and Johann Cruyff. It’s a solid effort.
Inter Miami: 8/10
Loud. Like it should be. This Inter Miami kit focuses on 1980s nostalgia and leans heavily on the vibrant style of vintage 305 and Miami Vice. The turquoise and orange also pays tribute to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, and the colors compliment each other surprisingly nicely. The kit is good, if you like them noisy — just imagine Lionel Messi continuing to dominate the league in this. Hopefully we’ll see him back on the pitch soon after sustaining an ankle injury at the 2024 Copa America.
