The Best Kits at the US Open Cup | OneFootball

The U.S. Open Cup doesn’t just give us the magic of soccer across different divisions — it also puts some of the country’s best kits on full display.

The U.S. Open Cup third round is upon us, which means the USL Championship is coming into the fold. In addition to more Cupset potential, we’ll be getting an entire new slate of kits as well.

Seeing as how we dropped the ball in not including any USL or other lower-league kit coverage for the 2025 season, we thought we could make up for it by highlighting our favorite kits in the Open Cup third round.

Portland Hearts of Pine Away

Manufacturer: Hummel

USL League One side Portland Hearts of Pine have had some of the best branding across American soccer even before they officially formed, and their jerseys for their inaugural season hit perfectly. We’re particularly partial to the away kit, which features a mini-heart pattern and an all-caps MAINE sponsor logo courtesy of the Maine Tourism Office.

It’s simple but gets the details right — from the navy collar and sleeve cuffs to the alignment of the heart in the club’s fantastic crest. It’s proof that you don’t need a wild pattern or color scheme to have one of the best kits in the country.

Oakland Roots Home

Manufacturer: CHARLY

Speaking of wild patterns and color schemes, the Oakland Roots continue their run of fantastic kits in 2025. The home shirt — which carried over from last year — specifically slaps, with a striped design that emphasizes the stained glass pattern present in the club logo.

Stripes can get boring or repetitive, but not when you execute it like this.

Detroit City FC Goalkeepers

Manufacturer: adidas

While most clubs get generic goalkeeper jerseys that are uniform throughout their league, Detroit City FC aren’t most clubs. They used the opportunity to shout out other sports teams in Motor City, including the NBA’s Pistons and NFL’s Lions.

The Pistons edition is a nostalgic look back to the Grant Hill days, while the Lions version puts powder blue and silver front and center of what’s a wonderful tribute to the city.

FC Naples Home

Manufacturer: Hummel

Nailing an inaugural kit is paramount to a club’s overall impact, and FC Naples hit the mark. The League One newcomers were blessed with a clean and classy design that leans into the club’s strong navy and gold color scheme. Fantastic details like the shell crown pattern on the neck and polo collar gives this shirt a tidy aesthetic.

Union Omaha Away

Manufacturer: Hummel

No stranger to a Cupset, Union Omaha have become as known for their bold and brash kit designs as they are knocking off MLS clubs.

Their 2025 away shirt is a bit more subtle than in previous years, but the hits of neon green on the collar and sleeve details brings that classic Union Omaha flash.

In 2022, the Owls went on a stellar run in the Open Cup, knocking off the Chicago Fire and Minnesota United en route to a quarterfinals appearance. If there was a kit to make a similar run in, it’s this one.

San Antonio FC Home/Away

Manufacturer: CHARLY

Perhaps the best one-two combo in this stage of the tournament, we couldn’t leave either of San Antonio FC’s kits off this list.

Starting with the home, it’s a relatively simple striped design, with perpendicular lines separated by a graphic of the San Antonio River. Red and black is an undefeated colorway, and it’s executed perfectly here without going overboard.

The away features similar simple stripes, this time in San Antonio’s famous fiesta colors of teal, pink, and orange. The color pattern is historically tied to the San Antonio Fiesta that commemorates the Battle of the Alamo, but keen-eyed sports fans will remember the NBA’s Spurs jerseys from the ‘90s that employed a similar color pattern.

It’s a fitting tribute, and like the home shirt, the design isn’t overbearing.

AV Alta Away

Manufacturer: Hummel

We recently highlighted the fantastic work that AV Alta FC have been doing in their community, and a part of that is their kits.

The away features a cream base with emerald accents, which is a strikingly unique color combination that you don’t see too often in the football kit space. A polo collar is a nice touch of class, and the 13 stripes represent the cities in the Antelope Valley of Southern California.

Tampa Bay Rowdies Home

Manufacturer: CHARLY

One of the more historic names in American soccer, the Tampa Bay Rowdies leaned into their past with their loud 2025 home kit, which celebrates the club’s 50th anniversary. The hooped sleeve design brings it back to the NASL days, and we’re here for it.

Miami FC ‘1896’

Manufacturer: Macron

Might be a hot take, but this is the best kit in Miami this season. While they may be overshadowed by their MLS neighbors, USL Championship side Miami FC still bring the heat when it comes to kits.

Titled the “1896” kit, this shirt pays tribute to the city of Miami, decked out in the colors of the city flag and with the city’s seal front and center. If you didn’t guess, 1896 is the year Miami was incorporated.

FC Tulsa Home

Manufacturer: Hummel

You can never go wrong with black and gold, and FC Tulsa’s art deco-inspired look is definitely a winner. The marble-like pattern is a nod to the architecture in the city, and the fantastic photoshoot the club did downtown emphasized the shirt’s ties to Tulsa.

Perhaps the best detail out of any kit on this list is the graphic on the back of the collar. Stuff like that takes a jersey from A-tier to S-tier.

Sacramento Republic Home

Manufacturer: Hummel

One of the premier non-first division soccer teams in the country, Sacramento Republic have been doing their thing for quite some time now, both on the pitch and with their kits.

Their latest home shirt is an absolute classic, with a tri-toned stripe design that’s retro and modern at the same time. It gives off ‘70s station wagon vibes in the best way possible, and the clean burgundy colorway is another underutilized shade in football kits.

The 2022 U.S. Open Cup runners-up will certainly be one of the best dressed outfits moving forward in this tournament.