How U.S. National Team Players Collaborated on the 2025 Kit Designs
The 2025 U.S. Soccer kits – The Brilliant Kit and The Heartbeat Kit – were unveiled in May and have already been worn in matches. What sets these kits apar
The 2025 U.S. Soccer kits – The Brilliant Kit and The Heartbeat Kit – were unveiled in May and have already been worn in matches. What sets these kits apart is the direct involvement of senior players from both the men’s and women’s national teams in the design process. This collaborative approach marks a shift in how football apparel is created, moving from kits made for players to kits made with them.
A Collaborative Design Process
Nike invited USMNT midfielder Kellyn Acosta, USWNT stars Naomi Girma and Lynn Biyendolo, along with DeAndre Yedlin and Walker Zimmerman, to serve as creative collaborators. The players were consulted on everything from past kit preferences to desired aesthetics, helping shape the final look and feel of both jerseys.
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In an era where football intersects with fashion, culture, and identity, the 2025 kits are designed to be more than performance gear. They are wearable declarations of purpose and pride, filtered through the lived experiences of the players who wear them.
“When Nike approached me, it honestly caught me off guard,” said Kellyn Acosta. “We hopped on Zooms and they asked about past kits, what I liked, what I wanted to see. It was refreshing—it felt like they actually cared about our perspective.”
Player Insights: The Return of Pinstripes
Acosta advocated for a kit that balanced boldness with familiarity. He pushed for the return of pinstripes, drawing inspiration from iconic U.S. kits of the past.
“I kept thinking back to the old black kits, and the royal blue pinstripes from the 2007 Copa America,” he explained. “Those stuck with me. They were iconic. So I pushed for the return of pinstripes. I wanted something memorable—something that people could be proud to wear on the street as well as the pitch.”
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The Heartbeat Kit embraces a darker, fashion-forward aesthetic, with details that honor fans as the “pulse of the game.” The Brilliant Kit celebrates 40 years of the USWNT, incorporating star details from historic jerseys into a clean, modern silhouette.
Naomi Girma on Legacy and The Brilliant Kit
For USWNT captain Naomi Girma, The Brilliant Kit represents more than a uniform. It is a tribute to the pioneers who shaped women’s soccer.
“I think about the women who continuously pushed the game forward,” said Girma. “The Brilliant Kit represents 40 years of resilience, passion and determination. It reminds me I’m part of something bigger than myself.”
The clean white base of the kit is intentional, balancing tradition with a modern aesthetic. According to Nike, every star and seam was placed with purpose.
Lynn Biyendolo on Bold Style and Fan Connection
Lynn Biyendolo, who also contributed feedback, emphasized the importance of honoring the team’s identity while pushing style forward.
“We’ve always wanted a more colourful dark kit and a classic light kit,” she said. “But with both, the goal was the same: make it bold and fun. Something we’re excited to wear—and that fans will be excited to wear off the field too.”
The kits are designed as lifestyle pieces, collector’s items, and canvases for self-expression, reflecting the growing cultural relevance of soccer in the United States.
A Cultural Shift in Football Apparel
The rise of soccer in American culture is driven by storytelling, style, and visibility. Docuseries, global pop culture, and streetwear have all contributed to a new creative era, and the 2025 U.S. kits sit at the center of that moment.
“There’s a real cultural shift happening,” said Acosta. “Football’s no longer just about 90 minutes. It’s about identity. You’re seeing jerseys become part of everyday fashion. It matters how you feel when you wear it.”
Nike’s design team asked players not only about colors and collars, but about how they wanted to feel in the kit—and how fans should feel too.
“It’s about self-expression,” Acosta added. “I might draw inspiration from interior design, from streetwear, from architecture. Creativity isn’t limited to what you see on the field.”
Personal Pride and a Growing Movement
The collaborative process gave players a sense of ownership and deeper connection to the crest.
“Wearing the jersey is already a huge honor,” said Acosta. “But knowing you helped shape what it looks like? That’s special. It gives you ownership. It makes you feel even more connected to the people you’re representing.”
Girma reflected on legacy: “I hope kids—especially girls—see this kit and feel like they belong. That they see themselves in it. That they know they’re part of the future of U.S. soccer.”
Biyendolo added: “The fans are such a big part of our success. These kits are for them, just as much as for us.”
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The 2025 kits represent a milestone in the evolution of American soccer, acknowledging the growing maturity of the sport and the players and fans driving it forward.
As Acosta puts it, “This is the start of a movement.”
A movement where players are designers, jerseys are symbols, and the U.S. crest is not just worn—it is felt.
All photography courtesy of U.S. Soccer.
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