MLS Teams Commemorate 20th Anniversary of Sept. 11 Attacks

Teams across Major League Soccer are wearing a patch on their jerseys this weekend to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The patches are blue, with “9/11” and “NEVER FORGET” in white above “20 YEARS” in red. They are modeled after patches worn by MLS clubs after the league returned to action in 2001 following the attacks, according to the league’s website.

Atlanta United midfielder Jake Mulraney wears MLS’s commemorative Sept. 11 patch during the national anthem prior to a match against Orlando City on Sept. 10, 2021, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Photo courtesy **ATLUTD.com**)

A Sept. 11 commemorative patch appears on the sleeve of a Los Angeles Galaxy player during a match against the New York/New Jersey MetroStars at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sept. 26, 2001. (Photo courtesy **CBS New York**)

The patches have been placed in the center of the chest of the kits of all MLS teams playing this weekend. They appear alongside a gold ribbon on the right chest, above the adidas logo, which is part of the league’s month-long campaign to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer.

Atlanta United’s Jake Mulraney dribbles past Orlando City’s Nani during a match on Sept. 10, 2021, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Both players can be seen wearing MLS’s commemorative Sept. 11 patch on their chests. (Photo courtesy **ATLUTD.com**)

The New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls will auctioning off match-worn kits with the patches, as well as captain’s armbands and other memorabilia, to raise funds for Sept. 11-related charities. Other MLS clubs are marking the anniversary in various ways, including donations to charities, hosting firefighters and their families at games, and memorial services.

As we mark the 20th observance of the 9/11 attacks, we pay tribute to those we lost along with the first responders who bravely rose in service. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/X1PAY846P2
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 11, 2021

In remembrance of the tragic events that occurred 20 years ago #InterMiamiCF and all @MLS teams will wear a commemorative patch on their jerseys. A moment of silence will be held prior to tonight's match in remembrance of the heroes and civilian lives lost on 9/11. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/A9qdoGHnqo
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 11, 2021

UPDATE (Sept. 13, 2021): Aside from the patches, both New York-based MLS clubs — Red Bull New York and New York City FC — and their opponents (D.C. United and New England Revolution, respectively) wore American flag-themed numbers on their game kits over the weekend.

🇺🇸#️⃣ pic.twitter.com/swMxvHmpMx
— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 11, 2021

"It's not easy at the moment, but we believe in us and we believe in our quality, what we have."

📰➡️ https://t.co/1hy9upLXWd #RBNY
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 12, 2021

The game tape from our last meeting of the regular season with #NERevs 🎥 pic.twitter.com/1xI6Mdb3Er
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) September 12, 2021

Feature photo courtesy ATLUTD.com