I can't decide whether the 1963 or 1967 Pan-Am ones are the worst ones ever. I think that 1963 has the edge - along with the fact that the shirt actually says "Pan Am Games," the periods in "U.S.A" somehow raise the lameness to another level. The 1972 Olympic shirts look a lot like the 2020 ones (which are among my favorites). I think that the closest thing to an "iconic" kit style that the US has come up with is all-white with navy/red horizontal stripes somewhere on the shirt/sleeves/socks. It's kind of similar to the ways that flag colors are incorporated in Germany's classic look.
I really like the 1959 and 1973 versions. I'm previously on record really liking the 1950 shirt as well.
In terms of recent US shirts, the 2018 version fits the best for what I see as the “foundation” shirt. That was the shirt we would have worn in Russia had things not imploded. You can do a lot of different things with red accents, and I actually thought that was well done. The throwback idea is more of a special alternate in my long-held idea that the US kit setup should be something like this. Primary-White with red accents Secondary-red or blue base. Can definitely mix things up on a regular basis. The red kit @rgli13 showed is a good starting point. The 2010 blue kit is also a good example of a solid secondary kit, as is the 2017 Gold Cup kit (minus the stars on the shoulders) Waldos as a permanent third kit to wear when we can More conceptual alternate kits (1994 throwback, current throwback being presented,different colored kits, etc.)
Whatever that is, it isn't the Olympic uniform. Teams don't wear their regular federation crests in the Olympics.
its a bummer that the denims were adidas, cause i love the array of stars- a remake that was even all navy with those stars would be killer.
To revive something I presented in this thread a couple of years ago, here is another long history of US kits from Stars and Stripes FC. Our kits have been all over the place. https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/u...a-jersey-all-time-usmnt-uswnt-waldo-2012-home
I would like to see a graphic with all the known kits the US has played with, sorted by year. @rgli13 posted two graphics that showed kits from 1916-83 (cool to see!). If such a thing exists, or one of you BS folks can make it happen then, well, make it happen!
It’s good to see the full history of kits. Just shows how we’ve been all over the map with no real unifying identity. Looking at these, here are the kits I’d use as inspiration for a true “identity”/primary. All of these are the white shirts for a given year unless noted. 2018 2006 1995 Copa 1950 1936 1939 2017 Gold Cup (replace navy with white, make the red stripes smaller) 2009 Here are some of the secondaries I like 2011 red 2010 blue 2006 blue 2017 Gold Cup (no stars) 2018 2014 special edition 2021, Centennial, Waldos, and 1994 are all good third kit ideas with the Waldo being a permanent third kit.
Either of these 2 options: Primary: 2004 Special Edition Secondary: 2017 Gold Cup Or... Primary: 2012 World Cup qualifying (Waldo kit) Secondary: 2010 World Cup (blue kit)
It's tough, but I think the 2010 navy WC jersey is my favorite of all of them. It also happens to be the only USMNT jersey I've ever owned, but it disappeared a few years ago--and I have no idea how. I'm still sad about it.
https://www.footballkitarchive.com/germany-kits/#2000s For context, here is the Football Kit Archive for Germany. The primary white kits are always different, but any fan would see them on TV and instantly recognize them as Germany over the years.
The 2004 special edition is very similar to Peru, but the sash is reversed. I would like some unique and recognizable; it may work. I do like the waldos as both unique and recognizable.
Will someone buy me my favorite? https://www.ebay.com/itm/3860536054...ar=653629308338&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I kind of like the ‘28 and ‘36 Olympic jerseys. The 1950 is also a classic but then we’d exchange the Leeds critics for Peru critics.
It's not my favorite design, but it would probably be the most recognizable of all the designs, and is the kind of thing that could see minor adjustments over different iterations (ala Argentina/Peru/Brazil) and still be immediately recognized as the US jersey by anyone.
We need to start a movement: Waldos for 2026. May as well reiterate some form of the denim wonders as well.
I’m ready to storm the Nike headquarters if they don’t bust out where’s Waldo for 2026, but the denim ones suck. I feel strongly that US Soccer should insist on the ww shirts becoming our permanent go-tos. They talk all the time about developing an identity, and the uniform is part of that. It’s definitely part of the identity for countries like Brazil and the Netherlands.
Exactly. It's unique (no other national team primarily uses hoops in their jerseys), and it's American (the stripes are from our flag). But Nike and USSF only want to milk every last dollar out of the fans' pockets, so they come out with new designs every year or two. And don't tell me we can't use it since it's not primarily one color, because Croatia wears their checkerboard kits all the time.
Croatia has made pretty big changes to their kit since 1998 to make it comply with FIFA. Here is the 2022 jersey. The back is all white, as are the shorts and socks. Here is the 2002 jersey. The US can easily do something that incorporates stripes/hoops and still be compliant with FIFA guidelines. Here is SKC’s 2015 change kit. Sub red for light blue and white for navy blue.
Yep. That’s why it’s so frustrating. Brazilians wouldn’t go out and buy a new shirt every year, or put up with radical changes, but Americans are dumb enough and rich enough to go along with it without asking questions. The WWs with blue shorts are so sharp and so unique. It could become part of our international identity in soccer, but it means a loss of money for the folks in charge.