Photo: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, More MLS Teams Get Throwback Alternate Uniforms
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVJuly 16, 2024
Adidas and MLS announced Tuesday a new "Archive Collection" centered around throwback-style kits.
Inter Miami, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City are all featured in the new line, which includes an alternate kit and lifestyle gear:
Major League Soccer @MLSHistory came to play. ✨<br><br>The MLS x <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adidasfootball</a> Archive Collection just dropped: <a href="https://t.co/eYoJVOfaNH">https://t.co/eYoJVOfaNH</a> <a href="https://t.co/jxQp243FXc">pic.twitter.com/jxQp243FXc</a>
LA Galaxy @LAGalaxyDe Los Ángeles para el Universo.<br><br>🔗: <a href="https://t.co/ouZfamk0iJ">https://t.co/ouZfamk0iJ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAGalaxy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAGalaxy</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/Herbalife?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Herbalife</a> <a href="https://t.co/RalrSjhG8y">pic.twitter.com/RalrSjhG8y</a>
Portland Timbers @TimbersFCWoven in the threads of tradition.<br><br>Introducing "The Clive Kit" from <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adidasfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCTID?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCTID</a> x <a href="https://t.co/PrkS2jFNBp">https://t.co/PrkS2jFNBp</a> <a href="https://t.co/wIYuRDFyOH">pic.twitter.com/wIYuRDFyOH</a>
Sporting Kansas City @SportingKCA new third kit, track jacket, and Gazelles - all in tribute to the original Kansas City Wizards 🧙<br><br>Shop the MLS x adidas Archive Collection now 🛍️<br><br>Available at <a href="https://t.co/gMt73iURgU">https://t.co/gMt73iURgU</a> and <a href="https://t.co/Y3HpMhxjVT">https://t.co/Y3HpMhxjVT</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportingKC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportingKC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adidasfootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/DlW6LMiS2A">pic.twitter.com/DlW6LMiS2A</a>
The Galaxy, Timbers and Kansas City had a wealth of history from which to base their retro looks.
Los Angeles and Kansas City were inaugural members of MLS in 1996, with the latter starting as the Kansas City Wiz and then going by the Kansas City Wizards. Sporting brought the Wizards moniker back along with the rainbow design that used to adorn their kits. The Galaxy are likewise hearkening back to the mid-1990s with their third shirt and crest.
The Timbers entered MLS much later in 2011 but have a lineage that stretches back to the 1970s in the days of the North American Soccer League. Along with honoring its run in the NASL, Portland has christened its new shirt the "Clive Kit" in reference to English defender Clive Charles. Charles is a legendary figure for both the Timbers and Portland soccer writ large.
The designers had a lot more leeway with their visions for Inter Miami and LAFC's kits since they only joined MLS within the last five years as expansion franchises.
"LAFC's look is a play on the creams and browns of the '70s alongside appropriate lettering, while Inter Miami's look is straight out of the '80s and uses some well-worn color palettes for the city," ESPN's Adam Snavely explained.
For now, these are the only teams that will be part of the "Archive Collection," though MLS said it and Adidas "will explore expanding which clubs have a third jersey in 2025 and beyond."
Much like the "City Connect" jerseys in MLB and the NBA's "City Edition" uniforms, this could be the start of a much wider trend across MLS.