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MLS vs. USL, Issa Rae & Tems join San Diego FC, & New MLS Kits
Your Weekly Digest of Soccer, Style, and Culture Across the CONCACAF Region
Welcome to Edition 29 of The Forty-One Life. This week, Issa Rae and Tems shake up the soccer world, joining San Diego FC’s ownership group, proving once again that the culture moves the game forward. Meanwhile, USL is stepping up, making noise with plans for a Division One league to challenge MLS. Over at NYFW, Juventus x le PÈRE drop a capsule that redefines football fashion.
We’re also taking you inside Neighborhood Sports Club’s 5v5 tourney, breaking down the fresh MLS kits (and letting YOU vote on the best), and tapping into Top Baller’s ATL takeover. Plus, MLS’ new docuseries ONSIDE is here, giving fans an all-access look at the league like never before. Let’s get into it.
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MOVES
Issa Rae and Tems join San Diego FC Ownership Group
San Diego FC is making major moves by bringing Issa Rae and Tems into their ownership circle. Issa Rae, the creative force behind Insecure, and Nigerian sensation Tems are more than just high-profile names; they’re cultural influencers. Their involvement isn’t just a headline—it’s a potential game-changer for Black culture and soccer in North America.
By stepping into the soccer space, they’re helping to amplifying Black culture’s influence in soccer in this region, creating new pathways for representation and community engagement.
This announcement is another pillar in what seems like a transformative shift for MLS, blending the worlds of entertainment, music, and soccer to reach new audiences for the league.
MORE MOVES
The United Soccer League (USL) is making power moves, announcing plans to launch a Division One men’s professional league by the 2027-28 season. This bold step aims to elevate the game, bringing top-tier soccer to more communities across the nation. USL CEO Alec Papadakis emphasized that this initiative not only deepens community connections but also aligns U.S. soccer with the global game, creating lasting opportunities within the sport. As soccer’s momentum surges in the U.S., the USL’s expansion underscores its commitment to fostering a dynamic and sustainable soccer ecosystem.
Overtime has teamed up with the NWSL for a first-of-its-kind content partnership, bringing the league’s biggest moments straight to Gen Z. Starting in 2025, Overtime will have full access—from regular season hype to the playoffs, the Challenge Cup, and the championship—delivering highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, and exclusive player content like never before. This move isn’t just about exposure; it’s about building a deeper connection between the culture and the game.
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
A beautiful day in the neighborhood - Inside Neighborhood Sports Club's 5v5 League
Credit: Dela Acolatse
Exploring the intersection between soccer, culture and community, Neighborhood Sports Club is a football-inspired brand seeking to push the beautiful game forward through storytelling, design, community, and athletics.
Born out a desire to find community centered active spaces, NSC aims to showcase a new kind of sports club. The brand's reach has already gone global, participating in a soccer tournament in Paris last year, and looking toward bigger plans ahead for 2025 and beyond.
STYLE
Juventus and Le PÈRE team up for NY-Inspired capsule.
A classic gets a fresh remix. The adidas Juventus 24/25 Home Jersey gets a bold rework through the vision of le PÈRE, bringing together Juve’s legendary black-and-white stripes with the raw creative energy of New York.
This collab flips tradition into something new—stripes reimagined with a modern, graphic edge, infused with le PÈRE’s signature style while staying true to Juve’s DNA. The three stars aren’t just symbols of excellence anymore; they move with the design, adding motion and character. And on the back? The number 90—a nod to the 90 minutes of the game and 90 Orchard Street, the birthplace of le PÈRE’s creative movement. The full collection is available now at Juve’s online shop and le PÈRE
ON THE PITCH
Columbus Crew Taps Into Our Childhood With Goosebumps Kit
Credit: Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew just raised the bar for creative kits with their latest drop—the Goosebumps Kit. Inspired by legendary author R.L. Stine, who put fear in a whole generation with his Goosebumps books, this jersey is a fusion of soccer, storytelling, and literary heritage.
From the black base to the yellow slime graphics, every detail of this kit feels like it’s out of a horror classic. The UV-activated technology takes it to the next level, making the design react under ultraviolet light—something never done before in MLS history.
The Goosebumps Kit is available now at the Crew Shop at Lower.com Field and online
KITS
The 2025 Major League Soccer Kits have dropped, we want to know which is your favorite
Credit: Dick’s Sporting Goods
MLS kit season is here, and you know we had to tap in. From bold redesigns to instant classics, the league just dropped a fresh batch of jerseys, and we’re letting you decide which ones go the hardest. Cast your vote in our 1-question poll, and stay tuned—next week, we’re dropping the official Forty-One Top 10 MLS Kits of 2025 list based on your picks. Hit the link and make your vote count.
WHAT TO WATCH
“Onside: Major League Soccer” debuts this Friday
MLS is pulling back the curtain with ONSIDE, a new docuseries premiering this Friday. The series dives deep into the stories, struggles, and moments that define Major League Soccer, giving fans an all-access look at the game beyond the pitch. From rising stars to legendary vets, ONSIDE captures the passion, culture, and energy that fuel MLS. Tune in on Apple TV+.
EVENTS
Top Baller 1v1’s (Atlanta, GA)
Sunday, Feb 23rd, 2025
West End Soccer Station
Top Baller’s USA fútbol revolution continues and this time we gonna be in ATL baby with adidas Fútbol Society