We continue our MLS at 30 series with the best kits from each team in the league.
Major League Soccer is celebrating its 30-year anniversary, which, aside from a few announcements here and there, has gone pretty much unheralded for the most part. But still, it’s a landmark accomplishment, and to celebrate, we continue or MLS at 30 series by looking at some of the best kits from over the years.
During the early MLS stages, multiple kit suppliers were present throughout the league, including Kappa, Nike, and of course, adidas, who is now the exclusive outfitter of MLS. And while there have been some misses along the way, we’ve seen a fair share of stunners, particularly in recent years.
Here are the best kits of each MLS team, no matter their history in the league.
Atlanta United: 2017 Home
Atlanta United burst onto the MLS scene in 2017, and their debut red and black striped kit is the best in club history. The team was something different in MLS: young, coached by a big name, Tata Martino, and featuring great players from South America. The Five Stripes had high ambitions when they started — and won a few titles in their early years.
Austin FC: 2024 Away
Another newer MLS club, there is something special about Austin FC’s stylish and simple away kit of 2024, from the green sleeves to the all-white shirt and a unique look for the crest. Austin FC has been dressed for success since arriving in MLS. Sadly, the club has been mediocre at best after a flash-in-the-pan debut season.
CF Montréal: 2013 Home
Back when they were the Montréal Impact and had more personality, CF Montreal featured Italian striker Marco Di Vaio and looked elegant and classy in their collared black and blue kit.
Charlotte FC: 2024 Home
Still writing their history in MLS, Charlotte FC is another FC-monikered team with a pretty strong kit history thus far. Their 2024 home kit in particular gave them something unique, although the team still hasn’t done much on the pitch since its inception in 2022.
Chicago Fire: 1998 Home
The first one is still the best one. Nike tweaked the design it had with Boca Juniors by taking the horizontal stripe onto the arms, and the Fire had a unique look in their debut season. The club won its only MLS Cup in this kit— and later added the U.S. Open Cup to boot. A great kit that laid the groundwork for the club’s identity.
Colorado Rapids: 2002 Home
Although they have an MLS Cup title to their name, the Rapids have never been a dominant team in MLS. Like many other clubs in the league, they’ve gone through a series of rebrands, and the burgundy of today was once a green — which happens to don their best ever shirt. Made by Kappa, the Rapids’ home shirt from 2002 is a clean and unique design that stands the test of time.
Columbus Crew: 2008 Home
The Crew have always been ahead of the curve in MLS — selling players, building a soccer-specific stadium, and regularly sporting aesthetically pleasing kits. 2008 was the first time the club featured a sponsor on the front of the shirt, and coincidentally it led to their first of three MLS Cups with MLS legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The team has had legendary players in MLS and many nice kits, but the 2008 home kit took the Crew to a new level. It was also spotted all over the Bombonera in Buenos Aires, so that’s a plus.
D.C. United: 1997 Home
D.C. United’s heyday is still their best era. At the height of their dominance, they sported a classy and toned-down black kit with two stars over the crest. D.C. United had a great three-year run in MLS before the league’s salary cap rules handcuffed them. The team was the first true MLS dynasty.
FC Cincinnati: 2019 Home
When FC Cincinnati entered MLS in 2019, they had a unique look with their orange and blue home kit and old-school style crest. FC Cincinnati have been a contender in MLS since 2023 with their Supporters’ Shield, and have one of the best fan bases across the league.
FC Dallas: 2007 Home
As FC Dallas transitioned away from the Burn, the team adopted a hoops look, and the best version of that was in 2007. The club has had ups and downs and, at times, an under-the-radar presence in MLS. A solid youth system has produced some top talents, but that hasn’t fully translated into titles for various reasons.
Houston Dynamo: 2018 Away
The Houston Dynamo’s best look was their unique black kit with orange and red horizontal stripes. The Dynamo have always sported very nice away kits, but this one is the best—hands down.
Inter Miami: 2023 Home
This was the first Inter Miami kit Lionel Messi put on. The team was in dead last upon his arrival, and an amazing free kick turned the tide. Overnight, the trainwreck that had been Inter Miami became a world brand… such is the way of Messi.
Los Angeles Galaxy: 2014 Third
A blend of the Galaxy’s history and dominance, the 2014 third kit was a throwback to the team’s first-ever home jersey. The Galaxy are MLS’ all-time greatest team, and while they have had some great kits, this one is a mix of modern and classic.
LAFC: 2018 Home
LAFC looked elegant with their black home kits in their inaugural MLS season. The YouTube sponsorship was sweet, and with Carlos Vela linking up with Diego Rossi, LAFC had it good in their first season.
Minnesota United: 2024 Home
One of the most obscure MLS teams is Minnesota United, yet their “Galaxy of Stars” kit is really unique. When we think of Minnesota, we think snow, cold — and this kit reflects that. Talk about Minnesota nice!
Nashville SC: 2023 Home
The yellow Nashville SC home kit of 2023 is squeaky clean. The soundwave lines on the sides give the team a nice look and is a nod to Music City, but while Nashville SC’s home kits have always been nice, their away looks have been bland.
New England Revolution: 1996 Away
The 1996 Revs Reebok away kit was everything the Revolution wanted to get out there in terms of their brand when MLS kicked off. The crest and the styling of the shirt looked, ahem, revolutionary, and while the club has since rebranded, the original look is still a part of its identity.
NYCFC: 2023 Home
After winning their first MLS Cup, NYCFC’s home kit of 2023 had a mix of New York City subway patterns on the front. It’s a very nice and unique kit for a team that was set to take off, but never really did.
New York Red Bulls: 2000 Away
Before they were the Red Bulls, they were the MetroStars. It’s perhaps a reflection of the club’s history of struggles that its best-ever kit comes from a quarter-century ago when it was known under a different name. Made by Nike, the 2000 MetroStars away kit had bold white and black stripes, looking similar to the home kits of 1996. It was the nicest mix of colors and pattern for the clunky team.
Orlando City: 2021 Home
Elegant with a fantastic lion crest, the 2021 Orlando City home kit hit all the right notes and is one of the best kits in the club’s short history. While OCSC has been more ambitious with away designs, their home kits have always been classy.
Philadelphia Union: 2020 Away
While not in their traditional colors, the all-white kit and Artesano sponsorship gave the Union a sleek and smooth look in 2020. The team is known for its home design but has done well making away kits stand out as well.
Portland Timbers: 2017 Home
The Timbers looked sharp during their better years in MLS with their green and gold home kit from 2017. The club has always tried different things with rose designs and split colors, but this particular design captures a tried and true look for the team.
Real Salt Lake: 2014 Home
Real Salt Lake’s 2014 home kit has the mountain skyline of Salt Lake City front and center, and the club’s crest has always been simple and elegant. The LifeVantage sponsorship looks so clean and crisp, giving the kit a 10 out of 10.
San Diego FC: 2025 Away
There’s not much to say about San Diego FC’s inaugural kits, other than one is navy and the other is white. The club has done well on the field, but the crest and kits are not great. The away kit has some “life” — if you want to call it that.
San Jose Earthquakes: 1999 Home
Nike in 1998-99 didn’t do MLS teams any service with some really poor kit designs, but what was then known as the San Jose Clash did stand out with their black and sky-blue colors and red scorpion crest.
Seattle Sounders: 2009 Home
Coming out of the gate, the Sounders set the tone for the electric club they would become by having a unique green and blue kit with an awesome sponsor in Xbox. The team would go on to be a flagship team of MLS, and their home kits would evolve — but this first MLS kit was special.
Sporting Kansas City: 2024 Third
A mix of their history with their new look, the Wizards crest, and the throwback 1996 wavy multi-colored lines is iconic. Sporting got it right by paying tribute to their Wizards past in a special edition third kit from last season.
St. Louis CITY FC: 2023 Home
Not much to pick from here, but St. Louis CITY FC’s 2023 home kit was a solid design. The red look gives the team a unique identity, mostly due to the side pattern on the front of the jersey.
Toronto FC: 2014 Home
Another red MLS kit — but the Maple Leaf on the front gives Toronto FC’s 2014 home kit a unique and crisp look. TFC once dominated MLS but has fallen off over the years. This is still their best look.
Vancouver Whitecaps: 2023 Away
The Whitecaps are on fire in MLS at the moment. Often a forgotten team in the league, they have had some of the nicest kits in MLS. Their best was the away version in 2023: navy and white, with a bit of sky blue. The hoop design is a North American icon.
