U.S. Soccer Jerseys: Breaking Down Men's Team's New Road Kit

The U.S. is experiencing a brief soccer boom after beating Italy 1-0 in a friendly on Wednesday, and now is the perfect time to start looking towards the future.

The Nike authentic away jerseys for the 2012-13 season are out, and the look is…well, it’s certainly traditional.

The U.S. Soccer Store has the details on why this jersey is the best one yet:

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Built for speed - this lightweight, athletic fit, jersey features a heat transfer crest and Swoosh with ventilated back and sides for superior performance. Authentic jerseys are designed for best fit and performance during competition with the elite athlete in mind. Support the USA with the same jersey they will be wearing during the U.S. Mens National Teams biggest matches in 2012. 100% Dri-FIT Polyester.

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The jersey is the solid navy blue color we’ve seen in recent years, and it dominates the front and drapes the entire back. A red, white and blue collar and large black stripe across the middle of the jersey are the big differences.

So, how does the new look grade?

Wow Factor: 2 out of 10

It’s the exact same look as last year’s jersey with the exception being the big stripe across the middle is white, and the Nike swoosh is red instead of black.

I’m fine with keeping relatively the same look in a non-World Cup year, but the first thing I think of when looking at the jersey is certainly not “wow."

Design Factor: 8 out of 10

I love the black stripe much more than the white, and the cool color combination by the neck is a great touch.

The way in which the strip is presented almost looks like you have some sort of book bag strapped over your chest.

Overall Grade: 7 out of 10

They aren’t the coolest uniforms in the world, but navy blue is always a safe bet, and the patch on the chest is big enough to clearly read, yet small enough not to overshadow the rest of the uniform.

It’s never a bad look to represent your country, and the new road look stays true to what fans have grown accustomed to.