U.S. Soccer Gold Cup jersey leaked

A jersey to be worn by the USMNT at the 2017 Gold Cup has apparently leaked. It’s pretty good.

Footy Headlines is at it again. The number one website for all your leaked soccer jersey needs revealed what they are claiming to be the shirt the U.S. Men’s National Team will wear during next month’s Gold Cup.

Footy Headlines is almost never wrong, so this is probably what the Yanks will be wearing when they take the field against Panama in Nashville on July 8.

So, how are we feeling about this one, folks? I’m partial to hoops, and it’s a vast improvement on the cookie-cutter offerings Nike has been doling out as of late. The stars on the sleeves are really nice. Soccer kit mock up maestro Conrad Burry provided a nice look at what the shirt may look like with a number.

The one issue I have with the alleged jersey: the navy blue of the sleeves is a darker shade than that of the navy blue in the hoops. This is obviously a holdover from the template Nike has been using for the last year or so, but it bothers me.

When it comes to these things, I have found it’s better to reserve full judgment until you see the kits in action on the field. I grew to despise the all-red getup a little less after seeing them on the players.

But, as an initial reaction, I am encouraged that Nike tried something a little different. And if you’re going to do something different, the Gold Cup is the time to do it. Quite a few regulars, including Christian Pulisic, will not be participating, and nothing — like a trip to the Confederations Cup sometimes — is really at stake.

Next: Confederations Cup 2017: 5 bold predictions

The pre-match shirt developed for the same tournament is the far superior shirt and should be the on-field jersey for the foreseeable future. In lieu of that happening, this new shirt will suffice. Good job, Nike. Finally.