Soccer Locker Review: U.S. Soccer and Nike Unveil 2014 National Team Away Kit
U.S. Soccer and Nike unveiled the new Men’s and Women’s National Team away kit, a striking red, white and blue design that will first be worn by the MNT against Mexico on April 2 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
The jersey has a modern crew-neck collar and consists of three bands representing the colors of the American flag. The base color of the jersey and the cuff of the sleeves feature a prominent red. The upper torso and top sleeves include a bold blue tone, and a white chest band extends over the middle of both sleeves.
The back of the jersey features a unique and specially designed font for the names and numbers, which is modern and angular. Each number on the back of the jersey also houses a small U.S. Soccer crest at the bottom. Additionally, there is a pennant tab inside the back of the neck featuring 13 red and white stripes to represent the original 13 colonies.
“I really like the new, patriotic colorway,” said U.S. Men’s National Team captain Clint Dempsey. “It’s a distinctive design that looks great on the pitch. They will serve us well as we head into a competitive group.”
Simple and iconic, the new away shorts and socks are red. The shorts are slim and tailored to the body, with a cut specifically designed to aid movement and comfort. The center back of the shorts feature Nike’s signature laser vents to aid in cooling and allow for moisture management.
“The new kit fits really well, looks great and keeps you comfortable, but my favorite part is that it is sustainably designed using recycled Dri-FIT polyester,” said U.S. Women’s National Team striker Sydney Leroux.
“The USA has a profound and passionate pride in their nation,” said Martin Lotti, Global Creative Director for Nike Soccer. “We wanted to create a design that reflects this in a daring and colorful fashion to give them an even more imposing appearance on the pitch.”
Additional Notes:
- The kit aids performance by using a combination of Nike Dri-FIT Technology, “burnout” mesh and laser-cut ventilation holes to localize cooling where players need it most.
- Nike Dri-FIT technology pulls moisture away from the skin to the outside of the garment where it evaporates more quickly. Laser-cut ventilation holes and engineered mesh in key areas allow for increased breathability and airflow.
- The new Nike Pro baselayer is the lightest ever from Nike and features increased venting and breathability. Players have a variety of Nike Pro baselayer styles to choose from. These are designed for the varying temperatures and conditions that athletes will encounter in Brazil, which are expected to vary from high heat during midday matches to much colder temperatures in the southern locations during evening games.
- The Nike Pro Combat Ultralight Slider Shorts, featuring increased and adjusted protection to match the athlete’s sliding pattern, are 20 percent lighter than previous versions and made with 87 percent recycled polyester. Weight was eliminated through the addition of mesh for increased breathability and cooling where athletes generate heat.
- Combining athlete insight and research with new materials and fabrications, the Nike Elite Match Fit Sock for 2014 features a sleeker fit specific to soccer. Strategically cushioned zones provide comfort and protection at the big toe and anklebones where the majority of impact occurs, while arch support locks down the foot to prevent slipping. Material was also eliminated to enhance touch and decrease bulk, and flex grooves were added to the ankle and the top of the foot to prevent bunching.
- In line with Nike’s commitment to superior performance with lower environmental impact, the shirt, shorts – and for the first time in a National Team kit, the socks – all feature fabric made from recycled plastic bottles (100 percent recycled polyester in the shorts, 96 percent recycled polyester in the shirt and 78 percent in the socks). Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles.
