2026 MLS Archive Collection: Ranking the Retro Kits — From Grimace Purple to Mountain Power
The third wave of the Adidas x MLS Archive Collection is here, and eight clubs just dropped their retro-inspired third kits. Some lean hard into nostalgia. Others invent a past they never had. Here’s a clear look at every kit and which ones are actually worth buying.
Austin FC — The Violet Crown
Austin is a young club. They don’t have deep roots for a true throwback, so they simply invented one. The result is a full purple kit that breaks completely from their usual green and black.
The color immediately recalls Fiorentina, the Byzantine flag, or even a soft nod to Orlando. In fact, this shirt looks so much like an older Fiorentina jersey that if you wore it to a match in Florence, local fans would probably stop you and ask which team you support.
It’s bold, different, and already generating strong reactions. For a club that usually stays in green, this is a genuine statement piece — even if it drifts into Grimace territory when worn as a full kit.
Shop Austin FC Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Austin FC Archive kit at MLS Store
CF Montréal — 1993 Nostalgia
Montréal goes pure nostalgia. White base with light blue and black details, inspired by the 1993 Montréal Impact kit from their first professional season.
Clean, classic, and perfectly timed. With Alexis Sánchez now in the building, this jersey becomes an easy must-have for supporters. It’s one of the strongest pure heritage looks in the entire collection and sits at the top of my personal ranking.
Shop CF Montréal Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop CF Montréal Archive kit at MLS Store
Chicago Fire — Classic Minimalism
White shirt with blue and red details. The design leans into the early 2000s and specifically references the 2000 away kit that featured a bold “CHICAGO” wordmark.
Chicago’s kits haven’t changed dramatically in style over the past two decades, so this one feels familiar rather than revolutionary. Still, the minimalism works. Clean lines, classic colors, and a timeless feel that always looks good.
Shop Chicago Fire Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Chicago Fire Archive kit at MLS Store
Houston Dynamo — Short and Sharp
Another exercise in minimalism. White base with orange and black accents. Simple, clear, and effective. Nothing overcomplicated — just a clean third kit that does its job without trying too hard.
Shop Houston Dynamo Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Houston Dynamo Archive kit at MLS Store
Orlando City — Bold Color Shift
Orlando reaches back to its pre-MLS era around 2010, when the club used a three-headed lion crest instead of today’s sun-style badge. The biggest talking point is the color change: moving away from purple toward more red tones.
Reactions are split. Some fans love the bravery. Others miss the traditional purple. Either way, it’s a distinctive piece with real history behind it and worth owning if you follow the Lions.
Shop Orlando City Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Orlando City Archive kit at MLS Store
Philadelphia Union — Quiet Retro Details
Philadelphia continues the minimalist theme with a cream-colored kit. The real character sits in the details — sleeve lines and a snake-wrapped Liberty Bell that give it a clear 1990s edge.
It’s understated compared to some of the louder designs in the collection, but the small retro touches make it one of the more interesting quiet kits of the drop.
Shop Philadelphia Union Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Philadelphia Union Archive kit at MLS Store
Real Salt Lake — Mountain Aggression
Black base with four shades of red. This is one of the strongest kits in the collection.
RSL leaned into Utah’s mountain and ski culture while bringing back the original “Real Salt Lake” wordmark. The result feels aggressive and powerful. Some clubs use dark kits to intimidate; this one actually delivers that energy. Mountain tops done right — and a clear second place for me.
Shop Real Salt Lake Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Real Salt Lake Archive kit at MLS Store
Vancouver Whitecaps — The Dogwood Standout
Vancouver’s kit is instantly recognizable thanks to the Pacific dogwood, the official flower of British Columbia, placed prominently on the chest. It also nods to the old ‘86ers era.
The design is elegant and distinctive without being loud. Multiple reviewers have already placed it near the top of the rankings for good reason. Clean, local, and smart — a strong third on my list.
Shop Vancouver Whitecaps Archive kit at Fanatics
Shop Vancouver Whitecaps Archive kit at MLS Store
Mio’s Top 3
- CF Montréal — Pure nostalgia executed cleanly, and the Sánchez factor makes it the must-buy of the collection.
- Real Salt Lake — Aggressive, powerful, and the best use of color in the drop. Mountain energy done properly.
- Vancouver Whitecaps — Elegant, distinctive, and tied to real local identity through the Pacific dogwood.
The 2026 Archive Collection continues MLS and Adidas’ yearly dive into heritage. Some clubs rediscovered real history. Others invented it. Both approaches produced kits worth talking about — and a few that belong in every serious collector’s rotation.