Apart from new signings and transfers, the most exciting part of the offseason for all soccer fans has to be new jerseys coming out. Whether it's part of a streetwear look or a symbol of honor for your club, soccer jerseys have been rapidly growing in popularity recently and each year that desire for the new is satiated with a new jersey.
This year, all 30 teams are getting a new jersey (except San Diego which is getting two new jerseys). Each year the new jersey alternates between a new home kit and a new away kit so that each is worn for 2 years.
As with most rankings, this is fairly subjective but has some rough guides and considerations. Home jerseys are always going to be more traditional and adhere to each team's color palette while the designers get more leeway on the away kit so the standard changes slightly. Additionally, I am typically a fan of bolder jerseys but, as with anything, there is certainly a limit. And final thought before the rankings, some jerseys look a lot better or worse in person and I haven't yet seen any of these outside of photos so take it all with a grain of salt.
Real Salt Lake - Grid City Kit
Unfortunately, someone had to come last and this felt quite deserving. It's possible that the checkerboard pattern plays better live but I doubt it. It sort of uses the RSL colors but, to me at least, it doesn't really scream Real Salt Lake it just screams first draft.
Houston Dynamo - Season 20 Kit
Someone was dealt a tough hand with this one--it is definitely not easy to make a visually abrasive orange into a nice kit--and they didn't manage to pull off a blinder. There is some detailing throughout the front that I would have thought would play well but, in the photo at least, isn't really doing it for me.
St. Louis CITY - Forever CITY Red Kit
I am a big fan of the collar writ large and that alone can help move it this jersey up the rankings but it doesn't have a lot going on for it beyond that. They went hard for the red and didn't really come up with much else.
FC Dallas - The Inferno Kit
This is the first of a couple of jerseys that just kind of look like training kits. It doesn't have much going on other than the color-inverted badge that I am not a massive fan of. It will likely get some love from the Lone Star State for the Texas flag on the back but that is too little too late for me.
Chicago Fire - Municipal Kit
This jersey bears a similar training kit label in my mind but has a few positive aspects. It has a nice light design on the main panel somewhat reminiscent of a fractal with the geometric design giving a little bit of interest to the jersey.
Philadelphia Union - Voltage Kit
Adidas went bold on this design and I have to applaud the bravery but I don't think it quite works. The electric bolts in highlighter yellow on a light blue background likely are meant to give honor to Benjamin Franklin but are a little (or a lot) much for me. I do like the alternate badge, though.
Nashville SC - Heart of Nashville Kit
With that bold attempt out of the way, we now return back to another training jersey-type kit. The jock tag and back collar detailing are very cool nods to Nashville and their musical prominence but the rest is just kind of boring if I'm being honest.
FC Cincinnati - Orange and Blue Legacy Kit
This is a classic Cincinnati shirt. If I was harsh, I'd call it trite; if I was kind, I'd call it classic. Either way--even for a home jersey--nothing was really altered or played with from previous jerseys.
CF Montreal - Montreal Original Jersey
This jersey has largely the same knocks as above, it just isn't terribly innovative or new. I like the details on the jock tag and the back of the collar but it's just hard to get excited about. A perfectly acceptable, safe kit.
22 & 21. San Diego FC - State of Flow & Woven Into One
We were bound to get to the expansion team sooner or later and it just so happened that they were next to each other in my ranking so I figured I'd group them together. They fall into similar boring/training jersey-eque pitfalls as previous kits with a very simple design. There are very sharp touches, though, with the chromatic badge and changing trim both being very nice additions. They also get some novelty points as the new team and for getting to use Chucky Lozano in their photo for some reason.
DC United - Soul Kit
DC evidently chose the same template as many others earlier but the patterned trim gives it a little something something missing in the other more simple kits. The jock tag and back of collar detailing are also once again quite cool. It seems to be a theme that Adidas has given some more attention to those little details.
Vancouver Whitecaps - The Peak Jersey
This is a good execution of the classic, clean jersey. There are some unique details such as the sleeves being colored but largely it is just the remake of a staple MLS jersey. (If this feels harsh to Cinci you're probably right but that's just kinda how the world works.)
Toronto - Club Kit
Barely edging out their Canadian compatriots, Toronto is the first of the jerseys where I start saying, "Okay I am a fan of what is going on." I like the red on top of red design with the dark vs. light shade contrast continuing all the way up the jersey to the sleeves, even.
NYCFC - The Excelsior Kit
This jersey is very close to being super sharp looking but there are just some small things that I feel detract from it. I am a big fan of the dark collar in contrast to the all-light jersey but it makes the white stripes on baby blue on the shoulder disappear a little bit. The details that have been very cool on other jerseys are also a bit of a letdown if we're being nitpicky.
Austin FC - The Heartbeat Kit
The last of the Texan triumvirate marks the halfway mark with a sharp kit. It very well executes the role of the home kit to somewhat reimagine the classic design and create something that feels fresh but is still instantly recognizable as the symbol of the club. It features nice green on green stripes and executes the black trim and detailing well.
Sporting Kansas City - One KC Jersey
Another very well-executed rendition of the home kit occupies the 15th spot. Making the classic broad stripes with overlapping thin lines is a very successful choice and the precision of the lines is reflected in the rest of the kit with a very clean, sharp home kit.
Columbus Crew - The Goosebumps Kit
I like the pattern overall and it makes use of the club colors about as well as you can use highlighter yellow. The goosebumps theme is well executed but isn't gory at first glance. We are firmly in the part of the list where the jersey only makes it this far by no fault of its own, the others are just better.
Orlando City - Perfect Storm Kit
This is a kit I really need to see in the flesh to be confident in my ranking. It is a very aggressive pattern of dots but I think I like it? I want to put it higher but I can't be confident enough to bump anything else down so it has ended up at lucky number 13.
Atlanta United - Connector Kit
It was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn't it? As much as I want to rank the Connector kit in my top 10 I can't in good faith. I really like the fine gold trim along the sides that mimics the flow of the connector (it even continues onto the shorts beautifully) and the jersey being set on black rather than red is a great choice. I really don't have any flaws to point out it just is quite similar to past home jerseys so it can't reasonably rank higher.
New England Revolution - Eastern White Pine Kit
The pattern on the main front panel almost reminds me of the 2018 Nigeria kit which was just a beauty but the turquoise--while pretty in its own right--just can't quite compare to Nigeria's green. The pattern also feels a little isolated with hard lines everywhere else around it.
Seattle Sounders - The Salish Sea Kit
Opening up my top 10 is Seattle's Salish Sea kit. The geometric patterned waves across the front are done beautifully and the details really tie the theme together with the jock tag stating that water is sacred in both English and Southern Lushootseed and a nice sea logo on the back collar.
New York Red Bulls - Stone Kit
This was the gold standard of the simple designs from this year's batch of jerseys. It has a great backing pattern with NY subtly hidden on the front in big letters. It isn't trying to do too much and just makes nice use of the more subtle patterns with contrasting hard, sharp lines on top.
Inter Miami CF - Euforia Kit
If you were paying close attention, you might have noticed that Messi-mania apparently warranted two new jerseys for the boys from Fort Lauderdale--I mean Miami--but I thought that was cheating so we are only considering their home kit. And to be fair to them, it is pretty sweet. If you're going to go for a pink jersey you have to really lean into it and Miami did that successfully. For some reason, it just feels very Miamish? I don't know, but I like it.
LA Galaxy - RIZON Jersey
The first of the two LA teams attempted a very bold color palette and pulled it off. The kit is loosely inspired by the LA sunset but has more of a crazy Northern lights feel to me. I also appreciate that the very bold colors are in stark contrast to the simple star jock tag and use of only their yellow in all the other details.
Minnesota United - Convergence Kit
Minnesota has had some great jerseys in the past and this followed suit, even if it was just outside the top 5. The icy water color scheme plays into the river convergence theme and is partnered with very simple and refined detailing such as the isolated loon badge.
Charlotte FC - Fortress Kit
Opening the top 5 is a great Charlotte jersey. I am a big fan of the black-on-black design of the kit that is even on the shoulder panels. The alternate Charlotte logo is also a fun choice that is reminiscent of the Rangers logo. I really don't have much else to add, just a very sharp kit.
Colorado Rapids - Headwaters Kit
This is the second rivers-inspired jersey in the top 10 and it is better than the first. Colorado dove right in with the river theme (get it?). Even the jock tag is a pair of white river RAPID oars. I'm a big fan of the thematic choices and the retro logo really rounds off a top-tier kit.
LAFC - Secondary Kit
I love a good collar and, unlike the St. Louis jersey, this is an immaculate execution of the style. The all white jersey with gold accents doesn't need hidden patterns or detailing, it is unadulterated and sharp and I am here for it. The gold lining of the collar is what really puts it over the top for me. What a great jersey.
San Jose Earthquakes - Headliner Jersey
This is the best of the collection of very bold jerseys offered by MLS this year and it is a home run. The aptly named Headliner jersey is meant to be an homage to the Bay Area's punk rock scene with the front design made of a collection of newspaper clippings, images, and iconography connected with the club with street art sharpied over them. The design is original and interesting while still being a part of the jersey and not being visually abrasive. For a team that has struggled recently, I am glad they at least get a truly great jersey. And maybe Josef will make more headlines this year.
Portland Timbers - Forever Green & Gold Kit
Taking the cake as the best 2025 MLS jersey in my rankings is the Portland Timbers' kit. The beautiful, deep green is complemented wonderfully by the gold trim and then the tree ring design is wonderful. The rings celebrate the history of the club as they demarcate the age of a tree and are a great way of drawing a very cool pattern from the club's culture and tradition involving cutting logs.
All images from MLS.com. Apologies that some of the graphics were cut off for some reason on their website.
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