Nike and U.S. Soccer unveiled the new home and away kits for the U.S. national teams on Monday. The home kit, which features a predominantly white shirt, is called the “American Classic” and the away kit, which features a mostly blue shirt with a bit of white and red near the bottom, is called the “American Icon.” So do these new kits live up to their lofty names? The Athletic’s U.S. soccer staff shares their views.
Introducing…
The 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 and 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐜𝐨𝐧 kits for 2024 🇺🇸
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— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) March 18, 2024
Jeff Rueter: I continue to get whiplash from U.S. Soccer, both with how frequently they change their teams’ jerseys and how radically each design departs from the last. This isn’t a Nike-specific trend — Adidas seemingly took an extensive art seminar ahead of their latest MLS drops — but the focus on designing shirts to fly off the racks is increasingly coming at the expense of clubs’ and countries’ identities. I’m far from the only one who yearns for a consistent look to be subtly updated every few years.
As for the designs themselves: it’s nice when a white shirt has details like this iteration’s collar, and although I love the bomb pop kit, the tie-dye/fading trend has never quite resonated with me.
Ratings: Home: 4/5, Away: 3/5
Alexander Abnos: The U.S. has certainly had more creative home jerseys in the past, but I like this year’s as a return to tradition – or as much of a tradition as exists for U.S. home jerseys. The stripe details on the sleeves, and neckline are a nice touch that takes this firmly out of “plain white t-shirt” territory. That those details are copied on the short legs adds a nice bit of cohesion to the ensemble.
As for the away: I don’t love it, but I didn’t love the “Bomb Pop” jersey either, and there’s no denying the connection between the two. Like that 2014 eyesore, I predict people will ridicule the loud pattern upon release, only to eagerly show it off years later after the jerseys become a “so bad it’s good” cult classic. Not me; I’m a hater for life.
Ratings: Home: 4/5, Away: 1/5
Greg O’Keeffe: I’m an avowed Nike fan and think most of their USA kits have hit the mark. There’s nothing egregious about this latest home jersey, but neither is it — at first glance, anyway — a stone cold classic. The design is clean, simple and safe. Perhaps a little boring and even a little too similar to the back-to-basics home kit they have also just released for England.
But the collar is a nice upgrade on the previous shirt’s neckline and (niche observation klaxon) I love the trim on the blue shorts.
The away shirt is more daring and although it could be a grower, I’m not overly enamored with the fade from blue into red. Icon by name, but not an iconic design for me.
Ratings: Home: 4/5, Away: 3/5
Tom Bogert: It’s a low bar in recent years, to be fair, but this is the best combo of kits the U.S. has released in a while.
Sure, the home kit isn’t complicated, but it’s a serious jersey that will look great on TV and in person at the Copa America. It will look like a classic U.S. kit and that sort of consistency is so important to me. For the away kit, they took a chance and got a bit more creative. I quite like it, particularly more than the last away kit.
I wish these were the kits the USMNT had for the 2022 World Cup, but I’m glad they’re here for Copa. I hope it’s more of the same for the 2026 World Cup.
Ratings: Home: 4.5/5, Away 3.5/5
Melanie Anzidei: I’m a big fan of an all-white jersey and non-white short combo — a trend that took way too long to stick in women’s soccer, in my opinion. And since I’ve never been a fan of national team kits that feature complicated patterns, this year’s home design feels very clean. I think that’s great. As for the away kit, I really do enjoy how the jersey design blends into the shorts and socks. But the jersey as a standalone doesn’t impress me.
Whether these kits are “iconic” or a “classic?” I think that will be determined by how the senior national teams play in them. Will the men’s team impress at Copa America? Will the women’s team thrive under Emma Hayes at the Olympics, redeeming themselves after their worst-ever showing at the World Cup? I think we’ll have to wait and see whether these jerseys become fan favorites, or just another pair you’ll shove in the back of your closet after Nike’s next release.
Ratings: Home: 4/5, Away: 3/5
Felipe Cardenas: Like many of you reading this, I’m often not impressed by Nike’s U.S. national team creative. Most recently, Nike has produced kits that are safe and predictable, bland and unimaginative. That aesthetic was most pronounced in 2022. The U.S. wore a forgettable hockey jersey look at the World Cup in Qatar. Overall, the team’s 2024 look is improved.
The home uniform, while not very creative, is strikingly American, if not from a soccer perspective. But is it timeless or expected? Personally, I’d like to see the U.S. move away from a white foundation for their home jersey. The blue shorts are a nice pivot from the all-white home look. On the other hand, the new away kits would look pretty good as the U.S.’ home uniform. For 2024, the blue away jersey is paired with red shorts and red socks. That’s a solid colorway for the U.S.
Embrace the blue and red.
Ratings: Home: 2/5, Away 3.5/5
Brooks Peck: It seems like the new home kit may have been inspired by the popular 2013 centennial kit (the “American Classic” name seems to indicate that, as well), but with modern detailing. But I agree with the others who said the U.S. should move away from a solid white home look. Leave that to England.
The away kit, meanwhile, looks like a watered down version of the bomb pop kit. Literally. It’s never good when tucking in your shirt/sitting down eliminates the primary design element of you shirt.
Ratings: Home: 2/5, Away 2/5
Steph Yang: They’re shirts. They’re nice summer camp T-shirts. Look, not every kit is going to be iconic. The away will serve its function in that it will be easy to track which team is the U.S. on the field. The home has some nice details. But they’re shirts.
Ratings: Home: 2/5, Away 3/5
Further reading:
(All photos: U.S. Soccer/Nike)
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