News Summary
Major League Soccer and Adidas have announced the launch of the United We Play pre-match jersey, celebrating the league’s diverse player backgrounds. This initiative highlights inclusivity and representation, as it will be worn by all teams before matches. Alongside the jersey, MLS has also updated its diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring policies to increase representation within coaching roles. This makes strides towards ensuring opportunities are accessible at all levels, enhancing the commitment to diversity within the league.
Philadelphia – Major League Soccer (MLS) and adidas have partnered to unveil the 2025 United We Play pre-match jersey, a bold move aimed at celebrating the diverse backgrounds of players in the league. This new jersey will be worn by all teams prior to matches, reinforcing the importance of inclusivity and representation in soccer.
The United We Play top is designed to highlight the remarkable diversity found within MLS, showcasing players from over 80 different countries on the field. With its 30-year history, MLS has developed into the most diverse professional soccer league globally. Teams including the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union are actively promoting this new jersey, which will be available for fans to purchase both online and in physical stores, including the Philadelphia Union Shop.
In conjunction with the jersey launch, MLS has released its 2025 schedule, encouraging fans to secure tickets to upcoming matches at Subaru Park. This scheduling announcement coincides with the introduction of significant changes to the league’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policy for sporting positions. The updates intend to bolster the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule, which focuses on increasing representation of Black candidates in coaching and technical roles.
At present, the Black player pool in MLS stands at 25%, but representation in coaching roles remains low, with only 7% of assistant coaches and 10% of head coaches identifying as Black. The revised hiring policy for the league incorporates a broader definition of underrepresented groups, reflecting various racial, ethnic, and gender identities to ensure inclusivity. However, the combination of Hispanic and Latinx into a single category has sparked criticism from some experts.
One of the key shifts in the updated policy is the requirement for finalist pools for open technical positions to include a minimum of two non-white candidates, with one specifically designated as Black or African American. This change replaces the prior requirement, which allowed for the interview of just one diverse candidate. Moreover, teams are mandated to illustrate that their interview processes encompass candidates with comparable experience for all positions.
The expanded definition of “minority” previously led to varying interpretations that diluted the effectiveness of the DEI hiring policy. To mitigate this, adherence to the revised policy will be monitored by MLS’ general counsel and DEI office, while also seeking input from the league’s leadership. Teams that fail to comply with the new requirements will face sanctions, which may include fines of up to $50,000 for initial offenses.
Additionally, MLS plans to implement a diversity policy portal. This system will require clubs to submit detailed information regarding vacant technical positions and the profiles of candidates interviewed. The progress of this updated policy will be evaluated annually, with potential adjustments based on collected hiring and interview data.
The combined initiatives of launching the United We Play pre-match jersey and reinforcing robust DEI hiring policies underscore MLS’s commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment in professional soccer. These actions are strategic steps towards not only celebrating the diversity already present but also ensuring that opportunities are accessible at all levels of the league—from the pitch to the coaching staff.
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Additional Resources
- Portland Timbers News
- Philadelphia Union News
- MLS Soccer News
- ESPN Soccer Article
- CNBC News Article
- Wikipedia: Major League Soccer
- Google Search: Major League Soccer Diversity Policy
- Google Scholar: Diversity in Sports
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Major League Soccer
- Google News: Major League Soccer
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