Exact Requirements Revealed: Adidas & MLS To Reintroduce Third Kits In 2021, Long Sleeve Kits Have Returned
Jan 6, 2021, by Chris
Update: Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson (@MerritPaulson) has exposed the exact requirements a MLS team needs to meet in order to receive a third shirt. If a team sells more than 100.000 jerseys they are eligible to be a part of the exclusive program. He also used the opportunity to disagree with the admission standards since Paulson does not like the fact that other factors such as kits sold per 1.000 residents are not included.
Need to sell 100k kits to allow a 3rd kit. We are among top sellers even as a small market. I think market size should be weighed into equation to allow clubs to do a third kit as we are punching way above our weight and its not apples to apples comparing ATL to PDX
— Merritt Paulson (@MerrittPaulson) January 4, 2021
With all the kits having been revealed on February 5 in New York, the 2020 Major League Soccer season is ready to begin. Now it has been revealed that 2020 is likely the last year for major MLS teams to just have two different kits, home and away.
MLS Is Poised To Allow A Third Kit In 2021
According to an article of The Athletic, Major League Soccer's "big sellers may get an even larger platform in the future. According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, MLS is poised to allow a third kit next year for a handful of its best-selling clubs, an option clubs haven’t had for years. Those third kits, which briefly appeared in the mid-2010s, were phased out when they simply didn’t sell well enough".
The Athletic also reports that for the the same reason (not enough sales), the league did away with long-sleeved jerseys last year. However, the long-sleeved MLS kits have now reappeared, with long sleeve jerseys available for some of MLS's biggest clubs.
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Champions League Introduces Special 'Debut' Sleeve Patch for 26-27 Season
UEFA and Fanatics have officially unveiled a brand-new "Debut" sleeve badge for the 26-27 UEFA Champions League season. Designed to mark a player's first-ever appearance in Europe's premier club competition, the special emblem will be worn on the right sleeve exclusively by players stepping onto the pitch for their Champions League debut.
The design integrates a bright blue badge featuring the word "DEBUT" directly onto the bottom portion of the iconic UEFA Champions League Starball sleeve patch. The addition seamlessly fits onto standard starball logos as well as specialized badges, such as Europa League winners and multiple-trophy winner crests.
Following each match, the match-worn debut patches will be removed and embedded into exclusive, autographed Topps trading cards as part of UEFA's long-term partnership with Fanatics.
What If Adidas Made Barcelona Kits?
Kit collector and insider @memorabilia1899 has shared an intriguing concept imagining how FC Barcelona would look if Adidas were the club's technical sponsor. Despite Barcelona having a long-term partnership with Nike extended through 2038, the fantasy of the German sportswear giant designing the Blaugrana's kits continues to spark conversation among football shirt enthusiasts.
The Adidas Barcelona concept leans heavily into retro aesthetics, combining classic vertical red and blue stripes with the iconic Trefoil logo on the chest. A dark blue polo collar, styled with 'BARÇA 1899' detailing, is paired with gold-orange accents seen across the Three Stripes on the shoulders and the centered Spotify sponsor logo. The full look is completed by navy blue shorts and matching socks.
Would you like to see Adidas manufacture Barcelona kits in the future, or does Nike remain the perfect fit for the Catalan giants?
VfL Osnabrück 26-27 Special DFB-Pokal Kit Released - Worn Against Bayern Munich
German club VfL Osnabrück have unveiled a special kit for their DFB-Pokal first-round clash against FC Bayern Munich. Manufactured by Capelli Sport, the one-off jersey pays homage to one of the biggest cup upsets in German football history, when Osnabrück defeated Bayern 5-4 at the Olympiastadion in Munich on September 23, 1978.
The Osnabrück 26-27 DFB-Pokal special shirt closely mirrors the clean aesthetic worn during that historic 1978 triumph. Predominantly white, it features a bold retro polo collar and matching sleeve cuffs in Osnabrück's signature purple.
Completing the look, the special edition kit is paired with matching white shorts and socks accented by purple detailing. The kit will be worn exclusively during the home cup tie against Bayern Munich at the Bremer Brücke and is available through the club's official retail channels.
Sergio Camello Scores Against Barcelona in White Adidas Predator 94 Remake Boots
Rayo Vallecano forward Sergio Camello delivered a notable boot spotting during their La Liga clash against FC Barcelona, taking to the pitch in the white Adidas Predator 94 remake boots. The Spanish striker put the heritage silhouette in the spotlight at Spotify Camp Nou, finding the back of the net twice while laced up in the inverted 1994 classic featuring a white base, black Three Stripes, and small, signature red accents.