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The Union's new third jersey pays tribute to the rest of the city's sports scene

The centerpiece is PHILLY in block letters, in front of a depiction of the Center City skyline. The neck and sleeves have stripes in Flyers orange, Phillies red, Sixers blue, and Eagles green.

The Union's new third jersey for this year. They'll debut it next Wednesday when Lionel Messi's Inter Miami visits.
The Union's new third jersey for this year. They'll debut it next Wednesday when Lionel Messi's Inter Miami visits.Read moreMajor League Soccer

The Union’s new third jersey has been a rather poorly kept secret for a few weeks, but now it’s official.

An off-white shirt with a lot of vibrant trim, it pays tribute to the entire Philadelphia professional sports landscape. The centerpiece is the word “PHILLY” in block letters, in front of a depiction of the Center City skyline; the neck and sleeve cuffs have stripes in Flyers orange, Phillies red, Sixers blue, and Eagles green.

The Union’s snake logo sits where the crest usually goes on a jersey, and a lower corner of the shirt depicts that snake in front of a stylized Liberty Bell.

As with a lot of soccer apparel these days, it’s designed to be seen around town as much as at the stadium. And as with the Union’s 1776-themed main jersey for this year and next year — full of images of historic city landmarks — it might not be for everyone beyond the Philadelphia region.

But it should appeal to fans around here, especially casual followers looking to buy some Union merchandise. If they don’t all know that the snake on the crest spot has been part of the team’s logo for years, they certainly will understand a jersey with “PHILLY” front and center.

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Union fans will also recognize the usual Bimbo Bakeries sponsorship logo, but this time it’s on the back side instead of the front. The necktag has a stylized version of the MLS logo from the league’s early years.

This is the first time since 2014 that the Union have had a third jersey. Back then, they had one of the most famous items in club history: a black shirt with white and red trim that paid tribute to the Bethlehem Steel dynasty of a century ago.

MLS went away from third jerseys for a while, but resumed in 2024 with a rotation of a select number of teams each year. This time is finally the Union’s turn. (The one exception to the rotation is Inter Miami, which has gotten a third kit each year since 2024 to profit from Lionel Messi.)

The Union and Adidas, which makes all the jerseys leaguewide, also released a jacket in the same off-white color. It has the snake crest on the front and Philly logo on the back in the team’s traditional navy blue.

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Both items are now available at MLS’s official online store, MLSStore.com, adidas.com, and at the Subaru Park shop. Expect to pay around $160 for the authentic version, $100 for the replica version, and $80 for children’s sizes.

The Union will wear the new jersey for the first time on Wednesday, when they host Messi’s Inter Miami in the highest-profile game of the regular season.

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