LAFC’s Art Deco celebration edges Portland’s Heritage Rose

It wasn’t that long ago when Major League Soccer and Adidas came under criticism for unveiling a slew of white kits that could only be differentiated by subtle accents or team-specific Easter eggs hidden under the collar. That’s no longer the case, with 2022’s offerings bringing plenty of bold designs and unique identifying features.

Evaluating jerseys is subjective, though. There’s no science in this list — only opinion — but there are plenty of elements to be graded beyond simple aesthetics. For example, many of these kits tell a story, often taking inspiration from a local landmark or cultural touchstone. They lend an authenticity to the shirts, something that hasn’t always been the case, and those teams are vocal in calling out those inspirations with an origin story.

And that is something that will be judged upon in 2022: storytelling. Has your club’s jersey been inspired by your favorite tourist attraction or local haunt, or has a rather generic pattern been given an ill-conceived narrative to create the illusion of authenticity?

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So let’s get into it: here are all 28 team’s threads, ranked top to bottom, on their beauty, their originality and their ability to tell the story.

1. LAFC | 5 Years Strong | +12 from 2021

When LAFC revealed their club crest and branding in 2016, all of it dripping with Art Deco inspiration, it was a smash hit. Celebrating its fifth season in MLS, the club has returned to the style that became so synonymous with Los Angeles in the 1920s and ’30s, and to great effect. The monochromatic pattern shouts from the rooftops that this is still the it club that got the soccer world talking in 2018. I could do without the centrally placed club crest and Adidas logo, in favor of more traditional…