Portland Hearts of Pine went searching for inspiration for a new away kit, and they found it in a local landmark.
The USL League One club based in Portland, Maine, unveiled the new kit for the 2026 season on Thursday, January 1. It features red and white hoops all over the front, back and sleeves — a nod to both the iconic West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine, and the 2012 United States national team kit.
One of the best players to wear that 2012 U.S. kit, Landon Donovan, lent a hand to Hearts of Pine by appearing in the kit release photos and video.
The red and white hoops on the kit are of equal width, with navy blue sleeve cuffs and a navy blue crew neck collar with a white pinstripe through the middle. One of the red hoops is interrupted on the chest to make room for the Visit Maine logo. The logo of Maine-based outdoor retailer L.L. Bean once again appears on the right sleeve.
The Lighthouse Kit is inspired by West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, located in Lubec, Maine, the northeasternmost point in the U.S. and one of the first places to see the sunrise each day. West Quoddy Head is one of 65 standing and 55 active lighthouses in the state, known for its distinctive red-and-white hooped exterior, a design unlike any other along Maine’s coastline. The red hoops themselves serve a practical purpose: establishing the lighthouse as a visual beacon in daylight, complementing its guiding light after dark.
Hearts of Pine also had a little fun with both their new kit’s and the 2012 U.S. kit’s resemblance to the outfit worn by the titular character in the “Where’s Waldo?” books. Club captain Mikey Lopez headed out to Waldo County, Maine, to take a few photos. The club is also selling red-and-white beanies and scarves to complete the Waldo-esque look.
The new lighthouse kit takes the place of Hearts of Pine’s old away kit in their 2026 jersey rotation. That kit was white with a pattern of small red hearts all over. Their home kit with navy blue and forest green remains in their wardrobe, as does their “Blaze” third kit with an orange camouflage pattern.
Hearts of Pine opens their 2026 USL League One regular season with three straight road games, including their season opener against the reincarnated New York Cosmos. Their home opener will be on Saturday, April 11, against One Knoxville SC at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
