News Summary
Major League Soccer (MLS) has partnered with adidas to unveil the ‘2025 United We Play’ pre-match jersey, celebrating multicultural diversity in the league. As part of this initiative, MLS is also revising its diversity hiring policies to boost representation of Black candidates in coaching roles, aiming to enhance inclusivity across the league. With teams required to include diverse candidates in their hiring processes, MLS is working towards a more equitable future, both on and off the pitch.
Philadelphia – Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced a collaboration with adidas to launch the 2025 United We Play pre-match jersey, a new garment designed to celebrate the rich diversity within the league. This top will be donned by various teams during pre-match events, emphasizing the multicultural representation with over 80 countries appearing on MLS pitches.
MLS has established itself as the most diverse professional soccer league globally throughout its 30-year history. The new United We Play top reflects this commitment to diversity, with teams like the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union highlighting its significance. Fans eager to support the initiative can purchase the jerseys online or at assorted MLS team stores, including the Philadelphia Union Shop.
Additionally, the league’s 2025 match schedule has been released, encouraging fans to obtain tickets for upcoming games at Subaru Park.
Revised Diversity Hiring Policies
In tandem with the jersey launch, MLS has rolled out substantial updates to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies aimed at elevating the representation of Black candidates in coaching positions. The revised policy seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule, which has historically been focused on ensuring diversity in hiring practices.
Currently, the league’s player demographic shows that Black players constitute 25% of the roster, yet only 7% of assistant coaches and 10% of head coaches are Black. To address this disparity, MLS has defined underrepresented groups more precisely, encompassing a broader spectrum of racial, ethnic, and gender identities. While this new definition aims to increase inclusivity, some experts have criticized the merging of Hispanic and Latinx categories.
The updated hiring policy mandates that finalist candidate pools for open technical positions must include at least two non-white candidates, one of whom must be Black or African American. This is a significant shift from the previous rule, which allowed teams to interview only one diverse candidate.
Implementation and Compliance
Teams will be required to demonstrate that their interview processes include candidates with comparable experience for all roles. The previous broader definition of “minority” had led to misinterpretations that compromised the intent of the policy, prompting these revisions.
MLS plans to ensure compliance with the updated policy through oversight by its general counsel and the DEI office, supported by contributions from league leadership. Teams that do not adhere to the new rules could face penalties, including fines of up to $50,000 for initial violations.
To facilitate transparency and adherence, MLS is establishing a diversity policy portal where clubs can submit information regarding vacant technical positions along with details about the candidates considered. Furthermore, this policy will undergo annual reviews, with adjustments made as needed based on the data collected from interviews and hiring practices.
Conclusion
The launch of the United We Play jersey and the introduction of strengthened diversity hiring policies mark a pivotal step for Major League Soccer in embracing and promoting diversity within the sport. By enhancing representation on and off the field, MLS aims to create a more inclusive environment that reflects the diverse communities its teams represent.
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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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