News Summary
Major League Soccer (MLS) and adidas have unveiled the 2025 United We Play pre-match jersey, promoting diversity and inclusion. The jersey celebrates the league’s multicultural profile, featuring players from over 80 countries. Alongside this, MLS has revamped its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies to enhance representation, especially for Black candidates in coaching roles. The revised policies aim to improve access and visibility in technical positions while ensuring compliance through a new diversity portal.
Portland, Oregon — MLS and adidas Launch 2025 United We Play Jersey and Update Diversity Hiring Policies
Major League Soccer (MLS) and adidas have announced the debut of the 2025 United We Play pre-match jersey, aiming to showcase the league’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The new top will be worn by teams during league matches and is designed to celebrate the rich multicultural fabric of MLS, which features players from over 80 countries.
Celebrating Diversity Through the New Jersey
The United We Play top emphasizes multicultural unity, reflecting the league’s status as the most diverse professional soccer league globally over its 30-year history. Teams such as the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union are among the first to promote the jersey, with fans able to purchase it both online and at various team stores, including the Philadelphia Union Shop.
Fans interested in attending matches at future fixtures at Subaru Park or other venues are encouraged to secure tickets early, especially with the upcoming 2025 schedule now available for purchase. The jersey not only symbolizes league-wide diversity but also serves as a tangible product that fans can support to highlight inclusivity in sports.
MLS Updates Its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Hiring Policy
Alongside the jersey launch, MLS announced significant revisions to its DEI hiring policies for key sporting positions. These changes aim to reinforce efforts to increase the representation of underrepresented groups, with a focus on improving Black candidate inclusion, particularly within technical coaching and leadership roles.
At present, data indicates that 25% of MLS players are Black, yet only 7% of assistant coaches and 10% of head coaches in the league are Black. The new policies seek to address this disparity through more structured hiring requirements.
Details of the Revised Hiring Policies
The updated policy introduces a precise definition of underrepresented groups that includes various racial, ethnic, and gender identities. Notably, the policy combines Hispanic and Latinx groups into a single category, a decision that has received some criticism for potentially diluting its impact.
Key provisions include requiring that finalist pools for open technical positions feature at least two non-white candidates, one of whom must be Black or African American. This marks a shift from previous policies which allowed for only one diverse candidate to be interviewed for such positions. The aim is to foster a more diverse range of candidates and ensure fairer consideration processes.
To ensure compliance, MLS teams must demonstrate that their interview processes include candidates with comparable experience. The league’s general counsel and DEI office will oversee adherence, with input from league leadership. Failure to comply will result in sanctions, including fines up to $50,000 for first offenses.
Implementation and Oversight
MLS will introduce a diversity policy portal that requires clubs to submit information about vacant technical roles and the candidates considered. This system intends to promote transparency and allow for ongoing evaluation of hiring practices.
The effectiveness of the policy will be assessed annually, with adjustments made based on data related to interviews and actual hires. The league emphasizes its ongoing commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive environment at every level of its organizational structure.
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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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