Historic Soccer Game
New York Cosmos Chairman Seamus O’Brien, New York Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese and New York Cosmos players Raúl and Marcos Senna were joined Cuba National Team Coach Walter Benitez to discuss the historic match when the New York Cosmos take on the Cuban Football Association in Havana, Cuba this June.
The New York Cosmos announced today that the club will participate in a historic match against the Cuban national team on June 2, 2015 in Havana, Cuba.
Cosmos Chairman Seamus O’Brien, Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese and club captain Carlos Mendes were joined by Cuban Football Association Coach Walter Benitez to officially confirm the game at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, New York.
“We are thrilled that the New York Cosmos are the first U.S. pro team to have been invited by Cuba in almost two decades,” said O’Brien. “Sport brings people together, builds bridges between nations and unites us as one people. We can’t wait to take the field in what will be a historic match.”
The match will mark the first time in 16 years that a professional American sports team has played on Cuban soil.
On December 17, President Obama announced that the United States would re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. This is certainly a historic moment for the Cosmos. The June 2015 match will mark the first time in 16 years that a professional American sports team has played on Cuban soil (the Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban National Baseball Team) and 37 years since a professional American soccer team.
“The Cosmos have a history of playing in notable international friendlies,” said Savarese. “This game is one of the most significant that the club has ever played and so I’m honored to part of this historic occasion.”
“The players are all extremely excited about the prospect of this trip,” said Mendes. “We know that this is a rare opportunity and we’re eager to get on the field and compete against the Cuban national team.”
The matchup in Havana is the result of a meeting coordinated by NASL officials several months ago between Cosmos Head Coach Savarese and Cuban National Team General Secretary Yero Luis, in which both parties expressed mutual excitement at a prospect of a game in Cuba.
“The Cuban people love soccer and can’t wait to see our teams meet on the field,” said Benitez. “This will be a game for the ages.”
“Soccer is the global sport that unites the international community,” said Congressman Charles B. Rangel. “It is only natural that a soccer match would be among the first steps in helping to rebuild our ties with Cuba. I am proud to congratulate the New York Cosmos soccer team in representing the United States in this historic first soccer match in Cuba.”
“As a Member of Congress who has been working for decades to pass bills that would allow trade, travel, and cultural exchanges between our two countries, I commend the leadership of the Cosmos for seizing this wonderful opportunity to begin what I hope is a regular exchange of sporting events with our Cuban neighbors.”
“It’s significant because of what New York is. New York is an international city with people from all over the world who love this game called soccer, or futbol.” said Congressman Gregory Meeks. “We’re now joining with another big sporting country, Cuba, uniting the Western Hemisphere, making a difference for us all. We look forward to the next stars of the Cosmos and Cuba, making this place that we call earth a smaller place, and a much better place, and it’s a better place because of sport.”
All photos credit: Mike Stobe, Getty images
