Art, culture, and football collide in Oakland as Oakland Roots SC unveil their 2025 CHARLY Third Kit – a piece that flows far beyond the pitch. Designed by internationally recognised, Oakland-based artist Muzae Sesay in collaboration with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the drop went live in fitting fashion at an exclusive event inside the museum’s walls.
The Oakland Roots' new third shirt from CHARLY takes inspiration from Sesay’s painting “The Sun Has Reached The Same Point As The Moon Above The Ocean”, a powerful work that channels the rhythm, beauty, and mystery of Bay waters. Those same waves and currents are brought to life across the jersey’s canvas, with vibrant, undulating forms and deep colours creating a kit that hums with Oakland energy. Inside the collar, the phrase “It’s in the water” acts as a reminder of the connection between community and coastline.
For Sesay, a practicing studio artist, football fan, and lifelong kit collector, the collaboration carries real weight: “It’s my two biggest passions intersecting in a way I never expected… My hope with this project is that it leads to greater interconnection between the art world and local sports, and also among all seemingly distant cultural communities—sustaining and nurturing the collaborative spirit of the Bay.”
That sentiment is echoed by Roots CMO Edreece Arghandiwal: “Bay waters give much to us and never ask for anything back. There is a beauty in the water that connects The Bay, and it’s humbling to see this beautiful piece of art come together to tell that story.”
This isn’t the first time the club and SFMOMA have linked up with Sesay – earlier this year they released a limited capsule with Oaklandish – but the kit takes things to another level. Woven Roots crest, embroidered Charly logo, and sublimated all-over artwork come together in a lightweight, match-ready construction with breathable mesh panelling. The result? A shirt built for the pitch, the gallery, or the streets.
The jersey will make its on-pitch debut on Tuesday, 7 October, when Oakland Roots face Hartford Athletic at the Coliseum. Ahead of that, fans can secure the drop at a special release celebration on 2 October at SFMOMA’s Museum Store, or pick it up on game day at the Coliseum’s Dimes Gallery (Section 105), where Sesay’s artwork will be on display throughout the match.
Limited edition. One-of-a-kind. Once-in-a-lifetime. This is Oakland Roots in full flow, connecting culture, art, and football — straight from the Bay, straight into the water.
