It’s unusual to see soccer teams wearing black jerseys. In a sport where bright colors and bold designs are the norm, a team dressed in sleek black stands out.
There’s something fascinating and intimidating about this unconventional choice. Black jerseys grab attention and make people curious about the team’s story and what lies beneath their dark appearance.
Initially, soccer teams were restricted from using certain colors for their jerseys.
In England, for example, the Football Association (FA) prohibited teams from wearing black jerseys until 1992. This rule was in place because referees traditionally wore black, and they called them “men in black”.
However, times have changed, and nowadays, different shades of colors are being used to avoid conflicts on the field.
In this article, we will take a closer look at soccer teams that boldly wear black jerseys. Despite the historical restrictions, these teams have found a way to stand out on the pitch while maintaining their own unique style.
From Europe to North America, Africa to Oceania, these soccer teams show the timeless appeal of the dark side.
Casale FBC
Hailing from Italy, Casale FC shows its rich history through its black jerseys.
In May 1913, Casale Football Club achieved a milestone as the first Italian club to defeat an English professional team, defeating Reading F.C. with a score of 2-1.
While Reading emerged victorious in the other matches of their tour, which included victories against Genoa, Milan, Pro Vercelli, and even the Italy national team,
Casale’s triumph marked a memorable moment in their history.
Presently, the club competes in Serie D, which is the fourth tier of the Italian football league system.
Casale Football Club proudly wears an all-black home jersey, which serves as a symbol of its identity and history.
In fact, the team’s nickname, “nerostellati” (meaning “the starred-blacks”), directly relates to their colors—a combination of black with a white star on the chest.
This distinctive design further states the club’s visual appeal and adds to the rich tapestry of its story.
This traditional color represents resilience and reflects the unyielding spirit of the club and its devoted fans.
CF Montréal
Formerly known as the Montreal Impact, CF Montréal adopted black jerseys to symbolize their grit and determination on the field.
In a departure from their previous blue and black striped jerseys, CF Montréal underwent a rebranding process in 2021 that introduced a fresh color palette and a revamped identity.
As part of this transformation, CF Montréal unveiled a new badge and a set of official colors.
The club’s new colors, marketed as “Impact Black,” “Ice Gray,” and “Sacré Bleu,” were intended to represent their distinctive brand.
However, despite the official color scheme, the soccer team predominantly takes to the field wearing entirely black jerseys.
The newly unveiled badge features four letters M’s and eight arrows converging toward the center, forming an elegant and stylized snowflake motif.
This emblem encapsulates the club’s renewed identity and serves as a symbol of its strong connection to the city and its unique character.
Through its rebranding efforts, CF Montréal has embraced a contemporary and dynamic image.
While their official colors extend beyond black, it is the black jersey that remains synonymous with the team’s powerful and assertive presence on the pitch.
DC United
DC United, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team based in Washington, D.C., proudly wears black jerseys as a symbol of unity and power.
One of the founding teams of Major League Soccer (MLS), unveiled its colors and original logo on October 17, 1995, during a special event in New York City, along with the other ten inaugural teams.
Black and white were chosen as D.C. United’s primary colors, reflecting the team’s identity.
Despite this, the team is commonly referred to as the “Black and Red.” Red accents are included in the home jersey, adding a vibrant touch to the predominantly black design.
While, white serves as the main color for the team’s away uniform, creating a clean and contrasting look.
The color scheme of black and white embodies D.C. United’s bold and timeless style, representing the club’s strength and elegance on the field.
Together, these colors form a distinctive visual identity for D.C. United, showing their commitment to excellence and leaving a lasting impression on fans and opponents alike.
The color choice signifies their collective strength and their goal to dominate the league.
Eintracht Frankfurt
As one of the prominent German clubs, Eintracht Frankfurt occasionally goes for black jerseys as an alternate kit.
The official club colors of Eintracht Frankfurt are red, black, and white, which have their roots in the colors of the founding clubs, Frankfurter FC Viktoria and Frankfurter FC Kickers.
The former sported red and white, while the latter donned black and white.
These colors were chosen due to their historical significance. Red and white are representative of the city coat of arms, while black and white symbolize Prussia.
When the two clubs merged, officials made the decision to include the colors of both sides.
This choice was influenced by the fact that local rival, Kickers Offenbach, already sported red and white. In order to distinguish themselves, Eintracht Frankfurt opted for kits that combined black and red or black and white.
The current home kit predominantly features a white base with black trim, showing the club’s distinctive style.
However, during European competitions, Eintracht Frankfurt also has an all-black kit, which adds a sense of intensity and unity to their appearances on the continental stage.
The choice of black, red, and white shows the club’s commitment to tradition, pride in their city, and a desire to stand out from their rivals.
This elegant color choice signifies their determination to achieve greatness in the Bundesliga.
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo, a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS), proudly plays in their distinctive team colors.
The official colors featured in the Dynamo crest are Wildcatter orange, Space City blue, and Raven black, which combine to create a visually striking identity.
The original crest of the Dynamo includes a star, which was likely included as a nod to either the Houston, Texas Flag or the “Houston 1836” crest concept.
Interestingly, the Houston Dynamo’s inclusion in our list of soccer teams that wear orange jerseys might surprise some.
While the team does indeed wear orange jerseys, it is worth noting that they also have alternate jerseys in different colors. The orange jerseys have become a recognizable symbol of the team and are worn with pride during matches.
The use of Wildcatter orange, Space City blue, and Raven black in the Dynamo’s visual identity creates a distinct and vibrant presence both on and off the field.
These colors represent the team’s connection to the city of Houston and add an element of excitement and energy to their performances.
The black color embodies their unwavering spirit and relentless pursuit of victory.
Los Angeles FC
In the city of stars, Los Angeles FC shines brightly in their black jerseys adorned with gold accents.
Founded on October 30, 2014, LAFC entered the soccer scene as an expansion team and commenced its play in the 2018 season. As a member of the Western Conference, LAFC proudly represents the city of Los Angeles.
The club’s primary colors are black and gold, which exude a sense of elegance and power.
These colors dominate the team’s visual identity, while red and gray are utilized as accent colors, adding depth and contrast to the overall design.
LAFC’s logo, designed by Matthew Wolff, draws inspiration from the Art Deco movement.
It features a shield outline reminiscent of the city seal, symbolizing the club’s connection to Los Angeles. The logo showcases a winged “LA” monogram, representing the initials of the team’s name and city.
Surrounding the monogram are the words “Los Angeles” and “Football Club” in Neutraface, a typeface inspired by the renowned architect Richard Neutra.
This unique crest captures the essence of LAFC’s identity, combining elements of history, art, and the spirit of Los Angeles.
The black and gold color scheme, along with the Art Deco-inspired logo, creates a visual representation of the team’s boldness and commitment to excellence on the soccer field.
Minnesota United FC
Embracing the dark side, Minnesota United FC confidently wears black jerseys, showcasing their strength and tenacity.
Joining Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2017 as the league’s 22nd club, Minnesota United FC replaced the North American Soccer League (NASL) franchise.
The team competes in the Western Conference and represents the dynamic cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Minnesota United FC’s colors are gray, sky blue, and black, with a touch of red used as an accent.
These colors hold significance and represent different elements related to the region. The gray color pays homage to the Iron Range of Minnesota, an area known for its rich iron ore deposits.
The team’s logo features a blue line that runs across it, representing the iconic Mississippi River, which flows through the state.
The blue line is divided into two sections, symbolizing the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, united under the banner of Minnesota United FC.
The combination of gray, sky blue, and black reflects the team’s identity and brings a distinct visual appeal.
It represents the team’s connection to the region’s natural resources, the spirit of unity between the two cities, and the resilience of the people from the Iron Range.
Minnesota United FC’s logo and colors tell a story that captures the essence of the club and its bond with the state.
The team proudly carries these colors onto the field, embodying the collective spirit and pride of Minnesota.
The black color reflects their fierce determination to conquer their opponents and claim victory.
New Zealand
The national soccer team of New Zealand, known as the All Whites, occasionally swaps their white jerseys for striking black ones.
The New Zealand national team has proudly represented their country at the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup.
One cool feature of the New Zealand national team is their unique choice of colors.
They are one of the few teams in the world that don black jerseys, setting them apart from the traditional color schemes seen in soccer. While their famous nickname, the Kiwis, is associated with an all-white jersey, they also embrace the striking all-black jersey as an alternative jersey.
As the dominant national soccer team in the Oceanic region, the New Zealand national team has made huge strides in promoting the sport and showing their talent on an international level.
While the all-white jersey remains iconic for the New Zealand national team, the option to wear all-black jerseys allows them to make a striking statement and connect with their fans in a unique way.
Their diverse jerseys reflect the team’s versatility and adaptability, capturing the spirit of New Zealand football and its global impact.
Black holds significant cultural and historical importance, representing the country’s heritage and strength.
Orlando Pirates
Hailing from South Africa, Orlando Pirates epitomizes fearlessness with their iconic black jerseys adorned with a white skull and crossbones emblem.
Founded in 1937 in Orlando East, Soweto, Orlando Pirates stands as one of South Africa’s oldest soccer clubs.
Throughout its rich history, the club’s performances have served as a source of inspiration for aspiring young footballers, motivating them to pursue the Beautiful Game at the highest level, proudly donning the black and white colors of the ‘Buccaneers’.
Popularly known as the Sea Robbers, they have gained recognition for their distinctive black jerseys. It represents the club’s identity and evokes a sense of power and intimidation on the field.
As the players step onto the pitch, they embody the spirit of the Buccaneers, ready to conquer and compete.
One of the notable aspects of the Orlando Pirates’ football journey is their involvement in the fierce Soweto derby, one of the most famous soccer derbies in Africa.
This rivalry takes place between Orlando Pirates and fellow South African side Kaizer Chiefs. The Soweto derby has become synonymous with intense competition, immense support, and memorable moments, showcasing the deep-rooted soccer culture in South Africa.
Through their black jerseys and their participation in the Soweto derby, Orlando Pirates has established itself as a symbol of pride and passion in South African football.
The black color exudes strength and adds an element of intimidation to their game.
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama, named after the renowned Portuguese explorer who discovered the sea route from Europe to Asia 500 years prior in 1498, holds a rich history in Brazilian football.
The club was founded on August 21, 1898, initially as a rowing club, by Brazilian and Portuguese immigrant workers. It wasn’t until November 26, 1915, that Vasco established its football department, becoming a pioneer in Brazilian football professionalism when it was adopted in 1933.
Vasco da Gama’s first football kit, introduced in 1916, featured a striking all-black design.
The jersey stood out with the presence of a white tie and a belt, allowing for easy identification on the field.
In 1929, the club made a minor adjustment to the kit by removing the tie and belt while retaining the all-black color scheme. However, in the 1930s, a new change took place, and home jersey underwent a change.
The jersey transitioned to a black jersey with a distinctive white right diagonal sash running from the shoulder down to the waist.
In 1945, the club opted for another change in their jersey’s color scheme.
The black jersey was replaced with a white one, adorned with a striking black diagonal sash. The distinctive black and white colors, along with the iconic diagonal sash, have become synonymous with Vasco da Gama’s identity and are instantly recognizable by fans and soccer fans across Brazil.
The color represents the club’s determination and courage while adding a touch of tradition to its uniform.
Other Soccer Team That Wears Black Jersey
- Aalborg BK (Denmark)
- Alianza Lima (Peru)
- Blackpool FC (England)
- Club Africain (Tunisia)
- Dalkurd FF (Sweden)
- Deportivo Cali (Colombia)
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel)
- IFK Norrköping (Sweden)
- Independiente Medellín (Colombia)
- KF Tirana (Albania)
- NK Maribor (Slovenia)
- Olimpia Asunción (Paraguay)
- Pohang Steelers (South Korea)
- Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (China)
- Sport Boys (Peru)
- Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea)
- Toulouse FC (France)
- Universidad de Chile (Chile)
- Vitoria SC (Portugal)
- Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan)
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