USL’s San Antonio FC Draws on Checkered Past for Third Jersey Inspiration

USL Championship club San Antonio FC is looking back to its own “checkered” past for the inspiration for its third jerseys for the 2025 season.

San Antonio FC unveiled the new kits, made by Mexico-based sportswear company CHARLY, on Monday, June 23, and will wear them for the first time on Saturday, June 28, when they host Union Omaha.

In 2020 and 2021, SAFC wore kits with a red-and-black checkerboard pattern on the front at home. The 2025 third jersey is inspired by those kits, but instead of red, it swaps in SAFC’s signature shade of grey, and turns some of the checks into solid vertical lines. “The kit draws upon the club’s desire to harness both nostalgia and minimalism simultaneously,” says a press release from Charly.

The raglan sleeves and side panels are solid grey. The sleeve cuffs are black with grey trim. And the back collar is adorned with a “210 | TX” print, denoting San Antonio’s area code and state.

“We’re thrilled to debut our new third kit in collaboration with CHARLY. This kit is a fresh take on one of our fan favorites from over the years. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary season, we felt it was important to find ways to commemorate past moments in our club’s history while looking forward to this new era, and this design perfectly encompasses that.”
— Jose Lizardo, senior director, Toyota Field and Ricos STAR Soccer Complex

The red-and-black checkered kits are the best-selling kits in SAFC’s history, despite being worn during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fans weren’t allowed to watch games in person.

“It was a privilege working with the San Antonio FC to bring this to life,” said Gerardo Lango, International Apparel Design Manager for CHARLY, in a press release. “This kit is a testament to how closely CHARLY and their clubs work together to produce kits staying true to the club, but still instilling flashes of what makes CHARLY unique.”

Saturday’s match against Union Omaha is part of the USL Cup group stage. SAFC currently sits in second place in Group C, trailing only New Mexico United. Kickoff at Toyota Field in San Antonio is at 8 p.m. CT.