Raleigh, NC (June 10, 2025)  – North Carolina FC Youth (NCFC Youth), the largest youth soccer organization in the state serving more than 17,000 local players annually, in partnership with adidas and Soccer.com, is proud to unveil a milestone in North American youth sports; the first-ever, bespoke, custom designed adidas jersey co-created with a youth soccer club. This historic collaboration took place over 12 months and serves as an inaugural test case for the process of scaling a custom youth jersey across planning, design, production, inventory, and execution. The three organizations also worked together on a professionally produced reveal video to premiere today, merging cinematic storytelling with design inspiration in the same vein as those produced by professional soccer clubs around the globe. 

“We are extraordinarily proud to unveil this new home kit and be part of a groundbreaking collaboration,” said Gary Buete, CEO of NCFC Youth. “The custom jersey design is incredible and the meaning behind it represents who we are as a club. To be the first North American youth club to have the freedom to design a one-of-a-kind jersey and bring it to life speaks volumes about our culture and the people who make NCFC Youth special. This was an opportunity to design something that reflects our values and our identity, and I think we’ve created something that every current and former player, coach, and family can be proud of. NCFC Youth, adidas, and Soccer.com are long-time partners who have worked together for decades, and this opportunity would not have been possible without trust, confidence, and partnership.

The new home kit features a custom jersey paired with adidas navy shorts and grey socks, which will be worn by the club’s Classic and ECNL teams. The jersey design is inspired by North Carolina’s state tree and serves as a powerful symbol of identity and connection. The rows of pine trees and roots reflected in the design speak to themes of strength, resilience, and unity. Pines cover over sixty percent of North Carolina, including more than half of the Raleigh-Durham area, and grow in all 100 counties. They’re a constant presence in neighborhoods, along commutes to training, and often surround the fields themselves. Named the state tree in 1963, the pine represents longevity, adaptability, and economic importance. The rows of pines on the jersey represent the individuals who make up the NCFC Youth community, the players, parents, coaches, volunteers, and the deep history of a club now in its 51st year. The roots beneath those trees tell the rest of the story. When pine trees grow close together, their roots form interconnected networks that help them share nutrients and support one another against the elements. It’s a fitting metaphor for the power of teamwork and for a club built on deep roots, collective strength, and growing stronger together.

The custom jersey also showcases two of our local sponsors, who share deep roots and a strong connection to our community. We are excited to welcome Young Construction Company as the front of kit jersey sponsor. Young Construction Company was founded in 1999 and is locally owned and headquartered in Wake Forest, NC. Like NCFC Youth, they pride themselves on teamwork and working towards the same goal. WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Wake Orthopaedics are featured on the sleeve of the jersey. Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed Health & Hospitals is the leading provider of health services in Wake County. With a mission to improve the health and well-being of our community, they have been one of our longest tenured community supporters and growing access to the game and benefits of participation.



“Working with NCFC Youth and Soccer.com has been both groundbreaking and inspiring,” said Tor Southard, Senior Director, adidas Soccer North America. “When presented with the opportunity to co-create a fully bespoke jersey from the ground up, NCFC Youth did not hesitate. The club provided important input on what makes their club unique, and we ensured the jersey incorporated that input. Soccer.com was instrumental in the process and logistics execution. With the success of this inaugural collaboration, we’ve taken a meaningful step toward bringing the same opportunity to more youth clubs in the future.”

Founded in 1974 as the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), NCFC Youth has grown over five decades to become the largest youth-to-professional soccer club in the country, impacting more than one million players over the years. What started in Raleigh expanded to the Capital area and now serves families across a wider radius in North Carolina. In 2017, the club rebranded following a collaboration with Triangle Futbol Club Alliance and a partnership with North Carolina Football Club. While still rooted in local service, NCFC Youth welcomes players from anywhere. The club’s statewide identity is reflected in its name and now, in the design of its first custom kit. Rather than use typical soccer motifs, the club looked to create something meaningful, connected to its journey, and reflective of the state and community in which it serves. 

“From day one, everyone approached this opportunity with purpose and vision,” said Brian Berklich, Chief Marketing Officer with Soccer.com. “The design is something special. Perhaps even more so is the collaboration, the storytelling, and the shared belief that youth clubs and players deserve moments like this. We are proud to have played a role in creating something that reflects the heart of NCFC Youth, and to set the stage for what’s next.” 

About NCFC Youth: 

Since 1974, NCFC Youth is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing each player’s soccer experience at every level and age of play. Through innovative soccer programming, player development opportunities, and a focus on coaching education, NCFC Youth creates an environment for more than 17,000 players and 1,900 coaches to grow on and off the field. As the largest club in North Carolina, NCFC Youth is proud to offer Recreation, Juniors, Challenge, Classic, Elite Clubs National League, and community outreach programs. NCFC Youth strives to improve the quality of life for our players, families, and community through the game of soccer. For more information, visit www.NCFCYouth.com.

About adidas

adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 62,000 people across the globe. 

About adidas Soccer

adidas is the global leader in soccer. It is the official supplier of the most important soccer tournaments in the world, such as the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the UEFA European Football Championship™, the UEFA Women’s European Football Championship™, the UEFA Champions League™ ,the UEFA Women’s Champions League™, and Major League Soccer (MLS). adidas also sponsors some of the world’s top clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, FC Bayern Munich & Juventus. adidas is also partner to some of the best athletes in the game including Leo Messi, Jude Bellingham, Aitana Bonmati, Lamine Yamal, Trinity Rodman, Mohamed Salah, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, Alessia Russo, Lena Oberdorf, Gabriel Jesus, Serge Gnabry, Son Heung Min, Vivianne Miedema, Lindsay Horan, Jaedyn Shaw, Mary Fowler, and Wendie Renard.

About Soccer.com

For over 40 years, Soccer.com has been a trusted partner for youth teams, players, coaches, parents and fans around the world. As part of the Sports Endeavors, LLC family, Soccer.com exists to help people pursue their passion for the beautiful game - outfitting the soccer community with everything they need to train, play, and cheer.