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(Nestor Cabrera Photo Credit New York Cosmos)

In the first-ever meeting between these two clubs, the Cosmos fell behind by two goals not once but twice, and somehow walked away from Chattanooga with a point they had no business getting through the first 30 minutes.

A Nightmare Start

It took less than a minute. Pedro Hernandez opened the scoring for the Red Wolves inside the first 60 seconds, 33 seconds to be exact as New York Cosmos Goal Keeper Tristan Stefani let one in the net after producing two back to back clean sheets. Chattanooga doubled down in the 32nd minute when Oluwatobilba Adewole made it 2-0, and for a stretch it looked like a long night in Tennessee for New York after the Cosmos won their last two matches and their first road win at Corpus Christi.

But the underlying story was never that simple. Even at 2-0, the Cosmos were dictating the run of play — patient in possession, probing for the crack in Chattanooga’s defense. That patience paid off in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, when Sebastián Guenzatti found the net to send the Cosmos into the break at 2-1. Suddenly, a match that looked lost had a pulse and pulled the match back before halftime. Guenzatti recieved a great feed from Christian Koffi. Koffi has battled injuries all season long played a great game causing chances for the Cosmos just missing the equlizer early in the second half.

The Comeback (Twice)

( Photo Credit New York Cosmos)

New York carried that momentum straight out of the locker room. Davide Galazzini came on for Massimo Morabito at halftime, Morabito got the start over Cosmos new signee Stalyn Acosta who was ruled out of this match. The Morabito substitution paid immediate dividends as the Cosmos kept the pressure on. In the 56th minute, Néstor Cabrera leveled it at 2-2 — the deficit erased. Cabrera, who played for Rutgers, notched first goal of the season and the first of his young professional career.

The celebration didn’t last long. Chattanooga has been dangerous on the road and even more so at home, and they showed why just four minutes later. Yanis Lelin restored the Red Wolves’ lead in the 60th minute, making it 3-2 and threatening to sink New York’s comeback for a second time.

This is where the match turned into a test of will. The Cosmos have played hard all season in all their matched, rather than fold, the Cosmos kept doing what had gotten them back into it in the first place, control the ball, create chances, wait for the opening. They finished the night with 64% possession, 26 total shots, and eight corner kicks, numbers that tell the story of a team that never stopped asserting itself, no matter the scoreline.

The reward came in the 77th minute, when Ajmeer Spengler struck to make it 3-3 and complete the second comeback of the night. Spengler recieved the cross from Justin Milonovic who just entered the match. The goal was Spangler’s second goal in his 8th for the season. With some of the attention on the newer players signed in the lineup, Spengler is able to move free on the pitch. Spengler just missed fired in the 50 minute.

Still, the story here is resilience. Twice down by multiple goals, the Cosmos didn’t blink, and their possession numbers suggest this wasn’t a lucky escape, it was a team imposing its identity even while chasing the game. If they can tighten up those early defensive lapses, a match like this could easily have been a win instead of a share of the points.

( Photo credit New York Cosmos)

The Cosmos are still at the bottom of the table at 17 . However, the Cosmos have 7 points in the last three games. They travel to Omaha to to face Union Omaha who sit at the top of the table. Union Omaha have won four of their last 5 with a dram in the last match. The Cosmos fell to the Union at home in May in the 94th minute. The match is schedule 8pm at

By the Numbers

• Final score: Chattanooga 3-3 New York

• Goals: 1’ Hernandez (CHA), 32’ Adewole (CHA), 45+2’ Guenzatti (COS), 56’ Cabrera (COS), 60’ Lelin (CHA), 77’ Spengler (COS)

• Possession: 36.1% CHA – 63.9% COS

• Shots: Cosmos finished with 26 total, 7 on target

• Corners: 3 CHA – 8 COS

• Bookings: Galazzini (COS, 49’), Knapp (CHA, 86’), Apolinar (CHA, 90+1’), Bohui (COS, 90+8’)

New York Cosmos and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC now know exactly what to expect from each other after a series-opening thriller. The rematch can’t come soon enough.

( Photo credit New York Cosmos)

Corpus Christi came out with intent, leaning on the crowd and trying to put the Cosmos on the back foot early. For a stretch, it looked like it might be one of those nights where the home side dictates terms. But New York’s back line of Stalyn Acosta, Anderson Holt, Michael Chilaka, and Néstor Cabrera didn’t blink, and the Cosmos slowly wrestled control of the game away from the hosts. The additions of Acosta and Chilaka on the back line has helped the New York Cosmos earned two consectives clean sheets and two back to back victories since April.

The Cosmos had to adjust to Corpus Christi played more of an attacking style and less possession compared to their last match where AV Alta FC held the ball for long periods of time.

Corpus Christi FC has defended their home pitch this season only surrendering one loss and also has been climbing up the table in 9th place in striking distance of the cherished 8th seed and a playoff spot. They also came in with a two game winning streak and 3-0-2 in their last five games. The Cosmos trying to dig themselves out from the bottom of the table in 17th place.

The payoff came in the 25th minute. Frankie Ljucovic did the dirty work to unlock the Corpus Christi defense, and Lamin Jawneh made the most of it, finishing coolly to make it 1-0. It was the kind of goal that shifts momentum suddenly Corpus Christi was chasing the game instead of setting the terms. Jawneh scored his first goal wearing the Crest of the New York Cosmos this season scoring off his left foot.

Stephani Stands Tall with the Additions of Costa and Chilaka

( Photo Credit New York Cosmos)

If there’s a player who deserves top billing in this recap of the defense it’s Tristan Stephani. Corpus Christi kept knocking six shots on target across the ninety, and Stephani turned away every single one. The hosts made a half-time substitution, bringing on Tomas Pondeca to try to inject some life into the attack, but the story didn’t change. Whatever Corpus Christi threw at him, Stephani had an answer. Cosmos Country Podcast Interview Tristan earlier this season. Below is the episode.

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Clean sheets like this rarely happen by accident, and this one was a full team effort — but Stephani’s six saves were the backbone of it. After having a rotation of foru goalied this season, Coach Davide Corti has recently inserted Stefani in the starting line up after an early season injurty to Derek Chan and in season signing of Javier Garcia from Boise. All three goalies have produced strong outings in the net. Corti has recently committed to Stefani.

Spangler Sealed It Late

New York started to make its substitutions in the second half, with Anges Bohui and Massimo Morabito coming on in the 66th minute for Christian Koffi and Cabrera. Nursing a 1-0 lead Corpus Christi put forward their attack late in the match. CCFC forward Jake Keegan hit the top of the crossbar that would have put the match level 1-1 in the 71st minute. A goal was waved off for CCFC after Keegan was off sides in the 73rd minute. After a continued frenzied attack by CCFC, the Cosmos settled and gave Stefani some breathing room.

Ten minutes later, the Cosmos put the game out of reach. Ozzie Ramos found Ajmeer Spengler, who buried the chance in the 76th minute to make it 2-0. Spangler willed his down the pitch and buried the his shot in the upper 90 just out of the out stretched hands of Irish Goal Keeper James Talbot adding separation for the Cosmos and ultimatley sealing their first road win. It was Spangler’s 7th goal of the season in 20 appearances this season. Spangler is leading USL League One with 50 shots and ranked third in chances created.

The Cosmos Travel to Chattanooga to take on Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday at CHI Stadium at 7 PM on ESPN +. Chattanooga sits in 8th in the table this season.

Final Score: New York Cosmos 2-0 Corpus Christi FC Goals: 25’ Jawneh (COS), 76’ Spengler (COS)

Jimmy Whelan and Jerry Cala are the Co Hosts of Cosmos Country Podcast- a weekly podcast that covers the New York Cosmos in the USL League 1.

(Photo Credit -New York Cosmos)

If you don’t follow the Canadian Premier League closely, here’s the primer. Shome spent his entire decade-long pro career north of the border before this move, and by the end of it, he’d built a reputation as one of the more reliable defensive midfielders in the Canadian game. High-motor and high-IQ presence in the middle of the park with real professional mileage across multiple leagues.

He got his start with FC Edmonton back in 2016, then in the old NASL, and was an immediate regular. Shome made28 appearances as a rookie pro. That performance was enough to get him poached by Montreal Impact of MLS in 2017 on a Generation Adidas deal. By 2019, Shome, scoring his first professional goal in a 3-0 win over New England that April, and helping Montreal lift the 2019 Canadian Championship over rival Toronto FC. He wrapped his MLS run in 2020 with 52 appearances and a goal to his name.

From there, it was back to Canada’s domestic league. Shome rejoined FC Edmonton for the CPL’s 2021 season, signed with Forge FC in 2022 before an immediate loan back to Edmonton, and then landed at Cavalry FC ahead of 2023 — where things really took off.

(Cosmos Country Podcast Jerry Cala sat down with Shamit Shome on Monday)

The Cavalry Years

Shome became a fixture in Cavalry’s midfield across three seasons, helping the club capture the 2023 CPL Shield and the 2024 North Star Cup. But the signature moment of his Cavalry tenure — and arguably his career — came on February 6, 2025, when Cavalry stunned Liga MX side Pumas UNAM 2-1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. It marked the first time a CPL club had ever beaten a Liga MX opponent in official tournament play, and Shome was right in the middle of it.

He departed Cavalry after the 2025 season having made 79 total appearances for the club (62 of them in league play), closing out a Canadian career that spanned 211 competitive matches across the NASL, MLS, and CPL. Shome credits the Calvary coaching staff to get him ready off the pitch with training and recovery. Shome considers himself an older player at 28, but in this sports climate, he is only hitting his stride.

The CPL is a young league that was started in 2019 which has currently 8 teams playing 28 games in a season. Canada also has three MLS Clubs. The sport is growing north of the border.

There’s also a full-circle element to this move that Shome himself pointed to. “It’s a privilege for me to play for the Cosmos,” he said to Jerry Cala on Monday’s episode of Cosmos Country Podcast. “Everyone knows the history with Pelé and Beckenbauer, but I also had the opportunity to play against great Cosmos players in 2016 when they had guys like Marco Senna and Raul. Things have come full circle and I’m really excited to get started.” Shome would have crossed paths with that Cosmos side during his rookie season with FC Edmonton, when the club was still competing in the original NASL.

From Canada to Bangladesh — and Now to Paterson

(Photo Credit New York Cosmos)

Shome was born in Edmonton to Bangladeshi parents and came up through Canada’s youth system, earning caps at multiple age levels before making two senior appearances for the Canadian national team in January 2020.

Canada, like the United States, is very well represented in the youth system and is the largest sport particiation with 1,200 youth clubs.

But after more than five years without another call-up, Shome pursued and secured Bangladeshi citizenship, earning FIFA clearance to represent Bangladesh in May 2025. He made his debut that June in a 2-1 qualifying loss to Singapore, and on October 9, 2025, scored his first international goal in a wild 4-3 qualifying loss to Hong Kong in the race for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

As a free agent this offseason, Shome reportedly explored options in Europe — a move to Dutch Eredivisie side Willem II fell through over passport eligibility issues, and he also drew interest from clubs in England’s Championship and League One, including a trial with Scunthorpe United. In the end, though, he’s landed in Paterson.

Shome, unlike some of the other players signed, does not have a relationship with some of the other players on the NY Cosmos roster. However, he is familiar with Cosmos Captain Sebastian Guenzatti who also is a journeyman for the club.

Why This Signing Matters Beyond the Pitch

( Photo Credit Councilman Shahin Khallique)

Paterson is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in New Jersey and one of the largest urban Bangladeshi populations anywhere in the country, trailing only New York City itself — an estimated 15,000 residents of Bangladeshi descent call the city home. Bringing in a Bangladesh international midfielder with genuine pedigree isn’t just a soccer move for the Cosmos; it’s a direct line into a community that’s been sitting right in the club’s backyard.

We already got a preview of what that connection can look like. Back on March 28, 2026, the Cosmos hosted a Bangladeshi Heritage Match against Fort Wayne FC at Hinchliffe Stadium, complete with a custom warm-up jersey designed around Bangladeshi cultural motifs. Adding Shome to the roster only deepens that bond — a homegrown-adjacent star for a fanbase that’s been underserved by American soccer at the professional level. Shome also met the Paterson Mayor Andre Sayeh and Paterson does have a Bangleshi City Councilman Shahin Khalique.

⚽ A BUSY STRETCH AHEAD FOR THE COSMOS! 🗽💚

The New York Cosmos begin an important four-match stretch tonight as they continue their push up the USL League One standings.

🆚 Corpus Christi FC
📅 Tonight
⏰ 8:00 p.m.

The Cosmos then continue their road trip:

📍 Saturday, August 22
🆚 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

📍 Saturday, August 29
🆚 Union Omaha

Finally, the Boys in Green return to Hinchliffe Stadium:

🏟 Wednesday, September 2
🆚 Sarasota Paradise

Four matches. Three on the road. One big return home.

Let’s go, Cosmos! 🗽⚽💚

#NewYorkCosmos #NYCosmos #CosmosCountry #USLLeagueOne #USLL1 #BoysInGreen #HinchliffeStadium

Jimmy Whelan and Jerry Cala are the hosts of Cosmos Country Podcast a weekly Podcast about New York Cosmos Soccer

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The Cosmos have added left back Stylyn Acosta to the roster, and before we even got to his game, we had to talk about how he got here — because Acosta’s path to professional soccer runs through a cancer diagnosis he received as a high school sophomore.

The Diagnosis

Acosta was in the middle of his sophomore year of high school when doctors found the problem: Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, sitting between his rib and his lung. He remembers the exact date — October 27th. What followed was nine months of chemotherapy, a fight he’d ultimately win that June, just before the start of his junior year.

The physical toll was brutal in ways that are hard to fully picture. The cancer had done enough damage to his third rib that it eventually had to be removed. Acosta recalled the doctors showing him an image of the bone beforehand — burnt and blackened from where the chemo had attacked the cancer. His only question at the time was whether it would affect him on the field. When they told him no, he said, that was all he needed to hear.

Through it all, he leaned on faith, on his mother — who had also battled thyroid cancer — and on the memory of a grandfather he lost to liver cancer. He was direct about what got him through it day to day: a refusal to let his attitude slip, and a decision not to let people feel sorry for him. He’d rather let his work speak for itself.

Getting Back on the Field

Acosta finished treatment with a month and a half before preseason of his junior year — hardly any runway to get his body back after nine months of chemo had stripped his fitness, his hair, and, by his own admission, some of his confidence. He talked about feeling like he looked like a different person walking back into the locker room.

He didn’t ease back in quietly. He started running again immediately, treating fitness as the non-negotiable foundation everything else would be built on. His high school coach, Ron Eden — who passed away just a few weeks before this interview — played a major role in that comeback, pushing him daily to trust the process and come back stronger.

It’s the kind of story that reframes everything that comes after it. A tough away match or a rough stretch in the standings looks a little different once you know what got a player to the locker room in the first place.

The Path to Professional Soccer

From there, Acosta’s soccer career took him well outside the traditional US pathway. He signed his first professional contract with Ponce FC in Puerto Rico, roughly an hour outside San Juan, where he spent six months and won a championship with the club. He came away from the experience with real respect for the technical quality of the league — more possession-based and patient in buildup than what he’d find back in the States, even if the physicality is generally lower.

That led him to American Soccer Club, a Long Island-based semi-pro side that operates as a Cosmos-aligned development pipeline — and one that’s now sent a second player up to the first team, alongside teammate Will Noer. Acosta credited the environment there, from general manager Jim to his coach, John, for instilling the professionalism, communication, and work ethic he says shaped him heading into this opportunity.

The turning point came in a preseason friendly against the Cosmos themselves. Acosta started, came off early with tight calves, and admitted he was frustrated with himself — this was the exact match he’d circled on the schedule as a chance to be seen. He got a second-half opportunity back at left back and made the most of it. Good enough, evidently, to catch the attention of the Cosmos staff.

The signing helps to solidify the Cosmos back line which has surrended the most goals in USL -1 this season. The Cosmos are an expansion team and still are tinkering with their roster. Acosta impressed Coach Davide Corte in a friendly back in July against the American Soccer Club. With Mason’s injury, the roster spot was opened and Acosta got his opportunity.

Joining the Cosmos

Acosta arrives at a moment of need. The Cosmos have been hit hard by injuries this season, with Davy Mason among the players lost for the year, and Acosta now steps into a backline that could use his depth immediately.

Asked to describe himself as a player, Acosta didn’t reach for flash. He called himself a fullback who keeps things simple — a defender first who enjoys getting forward when the moment allows, but who prioritizes reading the game and picking his spots over pure attacking instinct. Consistency was the word he kept coming back to: even on a night when the technical performance isn’t there, he said, the work rate has to be.

For a kid from Brentwood, the significance of the crest isn’t lost on him. He grew up watching the Cosmos and hearing about Pelé the way most American soccer fans of his generation did — the club felt like the standard, the place where, if you were good enough to play there, you’d made it. Putting on that jersey now, in a building generations removed from that era, he called it simply the happiest he’s been.

Acosta has 14 games left in the regular season to make his mark, and he wasn’t shy about the target: his best 14 games, played with total consistency, with the team goal being just as straightforward — stack wins, take it day by day, and keep pushing regardless of where the club sits in the table right now.

Update: Cosmos Get the Result They Needed

Good news to close this one out — the Cosmos delivered.

New York didn’t dominate the ball — AV Alta FC actually held a big edge in possession — but the Cosmos were the far more dangerous side going forward, with Sebastián Guenzatti leading the line and Christian Koffi, Ajmeer Spengler, and Lamin Jawneh supplying the attacking support. New York generated the better chances throughout the first half and tested AV Alta goalkeeper Denzil Smith repeatedly, while Tristan Stephani anchored a back line that kept the visitors largely at arm’s length. AV Alta was forced into an early substitution in the eighth minute, swapping Jerry Desdunes for Adam Aoumaich, and Ozzie Ramos picked up a caution in the 39th as the midfield battle intensified. Still, the teams went into the half scoreless.

The breakthrough came in the 61st minute. Jawneh did the setup work, and Guenzatti finished it, putting the Cosmos in front 1-0. AV Alta pushed for an equalizer and rang the changes late, but New York stayed disciplined defensively down the stretch — bringing on Nick Zielonka in the 69th, then Patrick Bohui and Davide Galazzini in the 78th, with Darren Sidoel introduced in the 89th to help close it out. Stephani and the back line held firm to the final whistle, and the Cosmos walked away with a 1-0 win and all three points at Hinchliffe Stadium. It was Stefani’s first professional career win.

This was Coach Davide Corte most experienced side to take the pitch this year. The NY Cosmos continue to sign players to get out of the bottom of the table.

A clean sheet, a set-piece-free defensive performance, and three points for a club that needed exactly that kind of result. Not a bad way to kick off Stylin Acosta’s time in Paterson — Acosta himself started at left back in the win, part of a back four that didn’t concede.

Box Score

New York Cosmos (4-2-3-1): Stephani; Morabito, Holt, Chilaka, Acosta; Ljucovic, Ramos; Koffi (78′ Galazzini), Spengler (89′ Sidoel), Jawneh (69′ Zielonka); Guenzatti. Subs not used: Garcia, Puentes, Chavez, Milovanov, Bohui. Coach: Davide Corti.

AV Alta FC (4-4-2): Smith; Christian Ortiz, Ceja, Pehlivanov, Relerford (71′ Pajaro); Bahena Jr., Lay, Maboumou (71′ Ramos), Antwi (58′ Higareda); Ibarra (58′ Acuna), Desdunes (8′ Aoumaich). Subs not used: Winum, Gonzalez. Coach: Brian Kleiban.

Goal: 61′ Guenzatti (NYC)

Booked: 39′ Ramos (NYC), 52′ Christian Ortiz (AV Alta), 58′ Relerford (AV Alta), 67′ Pehlivanov (AV Alta), 86′ Bahena Jr. (AV Alta)

Stat Cosmos AV Alta Possession 34% 66% Shots 17 6 Shots on Target 7 2 Touches in Opposition Box 31 11 Saves 2 6

Venue: Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, N.J. Attendance: 1,174

The Cosmos have the next three games away starting on Wednesday August 19 against Corpus Christi FC. The next Home match is on Wednesday Septmeber 2 at 7 PM.

Cosmos Country is proudly sponsored by Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union, the only credit union based in Paterson, New Jersey.

Jimmy Whelan and Jerry Cala are the co Host for Cosmos Country Podcast- a weekly podcast that follows NY Cosmos in the USL League 1.

It’s official: the New York Cosmos have signed Bangladesh international midfielder Shamit Shome for the remainder of the USL League One season. The 28-year-old joins after three seasons anchoring the midfield for Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League, where he made 62 league appearances. It’s a signing that checks the boxes on the field — but it’s the story off the field that makes this one worth an entire episode.

Cosmos Head of Soccer Giuseppe Rossi framed it as an immediate difference-maker for the club. “Shamit gives us another experienced player who can step into our midfield and contribute immediately,” Rossi said. “He plays at a high level and has the leadership ability to help elevate the team as a whole.”

Shome will join the team right away, though he’ll need to receive his work visa before he’s eligible for selection.

Who Is Shamit Shome?

If you don’t follow the Canadian Premier League closely, here’s the primer. Shome spent his entire decade-long pro career north of the border before this move, and by the end of it, he’d built a reputation as one of the more reliable defensive midfielders in the Canadian game — a high-motor, high-IQ presence in the middle of the park with real professional mileage across multiple leagues.

Shome got his start with FC Edmonton back in 2016, then in the old NASL, and was an immediate regular — 28 appearances as a rookie pro. That performance was enough to get him poached by Montreal Impact of MLS in 2017 on a Generation Adidas deal. By 2019 he’d worked into a full-time starting role, scoring his first professional goal in a 3-0 win over New England that April, and helping Montreal lift the 2019 Canadian Championship over rival Toronto FC. He wrapped his MLS run in 2020 with 52 appearances and a goal to his name.

From there, it was back to Canada’s domestic league. Shome rejoined FC Edmonton for the CPL’s 2021 season, signed with Forge FC in 2022 before an immediate loan back to Edmonton, and then landed at Cavalry FC ahead of 2023 — where things really took off.

The Cavalry Years

Shome became a fixture in Cavalry’s midfield across three seasons, helping the club capture the 2023 CPL Shield and the 2024 North Star Cup. But the signature moment of his Cavalry tenure — and arguably his career — came on February 6, 2025, when Cavalry stunned Liga MX side Pumas UNAM 2-1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. It marked the first time a CPL club had ever beaten a Liga MX opponent in official tournament play, and Shome was right in the middle of it.

He departed Cavalry after the 2025 season having made 79 total appearances for the club (62 of them in league play), closing out a Canadian career that spanned 211 competitive matches across the NASL, MLS, and CPL.

There’s also a full-circle element to this move that Shome himself pointed to. “It’s a privilege for me to play for the Cosmos,” he said. “Everyone knows the history with Pelé and Beckenbauer, but I also had the opportunity to play against great Cosmos players in 2016 when they had guys like Juan Arango and Ayozé. Things have come full circle and I’m really excited to get started.” Shome would have crossed paths with that Cosmos side during his rookie season with FC Edmonton, when the club was still competing in the original NASL.

From Canada to Bangladesh — and Now to Paterson

Born in Edmonton to Bangladeshi parents, Manas and Nandita Shome, who trace their roots to Sreemangal in the Moulvibazar District of Sylhet and emigrated to Canada in the early 1990s. He came up through Canada’s youth system, earning caps at multiple age levels before making two senior appearances for the Canadian national team in January 2020.

But after more than five years without another call-up, Shome pursued and secured Bangladeshi citizenship, earning FIFA clearance to switch national team allegiances. He made his Bangladesh debut in June 2025 and, on October 9, 2025, scored his first international goal in a wild 4-3 qualifying loss to Hong Kong in the race for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

As a free agent this offseason, Shome reportedly explored options in Europe — a move to Dutch Eredivisie side Willem II fell through over passport eligibility issues, and he also drew interest from clubs in England’s Championship and League One, including a trial with Scunthorpe United. In the end, though, he’s landed in Paterson.

Rossi’s comments confirm that experience is a big part of the appeal here: nearly a decade of professional soccer, four seasons of it in MLS, now walking into a Cosmos midfield that can use exactly that kind of composure down the stretch of a USL League One season.

Why This Signing Matters Beyond the Pitch

This is the part of the story that makes it more than just a transfer.

Paterson is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in New Jersey and one of the largest urban Bangladeshi populations anywhere in the country, trailing only New York City itself — an estimated 15,000 residents of Bangladeshi descent call the city home. Bringing in a Bangladesh international midfielder with genuine pedigree isn’t just a soccer move for the Cosmos; it’s a direct line into a community that’s been sitting right in the club’s backyard.

We already got a preview of what that connection can look like. Back on March 28, 2026, the Cosmos hosted a Bangladeshi Heritage Match against Fort Wayne FC at Hinchliffe Stadium, complete with a custom warm-up jersey designed around Bangladeshi cultural motifs. Adding Shome to the roster only deepens that bond — a homegrown-adjacent star for a fanbase that’s been underserved by American soccer at the professional level.

Football in a Cricket Country

For listeners less familiar with the Bangladeshi sports landscape, it’s worth setting the scene. Cricket is the national obsession in Bangladesh, by a wide margin — the sport that dominates headlines, sponsorships, and playground dreams. Football comes in second, with kabaddi holding the official title of national sport and still thriving in rural areas. Field hockey has historically ranked close behind cricket and football too, though it’s faded some in recent years, with badminton and volleyball rounding out the country’s sporting culture.

That context matters here. Football has never had the spotlight to itself in Bangladesh, which makes producing a player who can genuinely compete at the pro level abroad — let alone at a club with the sporting history of the Cosmos — a bigger deal than it might look on paper.

The Footballers Who Came Before Him

Shome isn’t stepping into a vacuum. Bangladesh has produced a handful of genuine football legends over the decades, even if none reached the level of international exposure he’s now positioned for:

• Monem Munna — Regarded by many as the greatest Bangladeshi footballer of all time. Nicknamed the “King Back,” he anchored the defense for Abahani Limited Dhaka and captained both club and country with a reputation for toughness and leadership.

• Sheikh Mohammad Aslam — A prolific striker for Dhaka Abahani through the 1980s and ‘90s, and still the all-time leading scorer in Bangladesh’s top domestic league with 177 goals.

• Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Chunnu — The national team’s all-time top scorer with 17 international goals, playing for Bangladesh from 1975 to 1985 and captaining the side in 1982.

• Aminul Haque — Widely considered the greatest goalkeeper in Bangladeshi history, known for elite positioning and shot-stopping that drew interest from Newcastle United in 2004.

• Jahid Hasan Emily — The current all-time leading scorer and most-capped player in national team history, a longtime striker for Sheikh Russel KC.

• Jamal Bhuyan — The current national team captain and most-capped player in program history, widely seen as the face of the modern Bangladesh setup.

Shome’s path is different from all of them — a Canadian-developed midfielder who came to the national team through heritage rather than the domestic pipeline — but he joins a program that already has a real, if under-the-radar, football tradition behind it.

With 14 matches left in the season, On paper, Shome gives Cosmos a proven, tactically disciplined midfielder with MLS and CPL pedigree, continental knockout experience, and a track record of anchoring winning teams. Off the pitch, he gives the club a genuine cultural bridge into one of Paterson’s largest communities.It’s official, it’s signed, and now it’s just a matter of paperwork before he’s in the lineup. This is shaping up to be one of the more meaningful signings in the club’s modern history — for what it means on the field, and for what it means in the stands.

Welcome to Cosmos Country, Shamit.

Below is the latest episode of Cosmos Country Podcast as Co Host Jerry Cala sat down with another new signee for the New York Cosmos Staylin Acosta. Be sure to check out more episodes every week.

Jerry Cala and Jim Whelan host the weekly podcast called Cosmos Country

Kickers Shut Down Cosmos, 2-0, Extending New York’s Road Woes

RICHMOND, Va. — The Richmond Kickers held firm at City Stadium on Wednesday night, beating the New York Cosmos 2-0 in USL League One play and adding another chapter to what has become a brutal stretch for the visitors.

A Familiar Story on the Road

The result continues a troubling pattern for New York, which came into the match having dropped eight straight away games in League One. It’s part of a broader four-game losing skid that has dogged the Cosmos since early May, one of the longest slides of any club in the league this season.

For Richmond, the win offers a rare bright spot in what has otherwise been a difficult season. The Kickers entered the night 16th in the 17-team USL League One table, with New York sitting dead last — and the result did nothing to shake up those positions, even as it padded Richmond’s goal differential and deepened New York’s.

How It Played Out

Both goals came from the same source. In the 33rd minute, Darwin Espinal put Richmond in front with a right-footed finish from the center of the box into the bottom left corner, set up by a Hayden Anderson cross. He added his second in the 53rd to put the match out of reach.

The scoreline undersells how lopsided the night was in Richmond’s favor. The Kickers piled up 17 shots to New York’s 9, with 6 on target compared to the Cosmos’ 4, and did it despite seeing less of the ball — Richmond played at 43% possession to New York’s 57%. Passing was even between the two sides, with the Cosmos slightly crisper in distribution (85% accuracy to Richmond’s 84%), but it was Richmond’s efficiency in the final third that decided things. Corners were dead even at 4 apiece, while Richmond edged the tackle count 16-14 and were also whistled for more fouls, 13 to New York’s 10, as they worked to disrupt New York’s rhythm in possession.

It’s New York’s third straight road loss by multiple goals, a stat that speaks to how difficult finishing the season on the road has been for the club.

Richmond goalkeeper Yann-Alexandre Fillion was credited with the clean sheet, backed by a defense that made the most of a night where it controlled the ball less but created — and finished — far more. It marked the club’s fourth clean sheet of the season, and second in the last seven matches, a small but real sign of improved defensive stability of late.

The win also carries extra significance for interim head coach Brian Ownby, who took over the Kickers in June. It’s his first back-to-back win since stepping into the role, following a victory in Richmond’s previous match.

What It Means

New York will look to regroup before its next fixture, needing to find answers to a road record and goal difference that have defined its season. Richmond, meanwhile, will look to carry the momentum from a statement defensive performance into its upcoming matches, even with the postseason picture likely out of reach.

The Cosmos are back in action on Saturday as they host Spokane Velocity FC at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson.

Tonight in Richmond, Virginia, two of American soccer’s most historically significant clubs will meet under circumstances neither expected when the season began. The New York Cosmos and Richmond Kickers face off at City Stadium at 7 p.m. ET, with the match broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network — the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

It is a fixture with plenty of history behind it. It is also, this year, a fixture between two teams working to turn their seasons around.

Richmond enters the match mired near the bottom of the USL League One table, a difficult stretch for a club that built its identity on stability and winning. The Cosmos, in the first season of their long-awaited return to professional soccer, have had their own rough patches, including a four-game losing streak in the spring and some lopsided defeats along the way. For both organizations, tonight’s game carries weight that goes beyond the standings — but the standings are exactly why each side will be desperate for three points.

The Cosmos: A Storied Name Chasing Consistency in Its New Era

Founded in 1970, the New York Cosmos began play in the North American Soccer League in 1971, and the club’s trajectory changed forever in 1975 with the signing of Brazilian legend Pelé. His arrival made the Cosmos the most famous soccer team in America, drawing crowds that regularly exceeded 40,000 at Giants Stadium and a then-record 77,691 fans for a 1977 playoff game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Giorgio Chinaglia turned the Cosmos into a global brand, and the club won five NASL championships between 1972 and 1982.

That name never fully went away. The Cosmos returned in 2013 and added modern NASL titles in 2013, 2015 and 2016 before going dormant again. A new ownership group acquired the identity in 2025 and brought the Cosmos back for 2026 in USL League One, based at the newly restored Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey — a National Historic Landmark and a fitting stage for a club built on spectacle.

The first season back has been a learning process. New York has shown flashes of the talent that comes with rebuilding a first-year roster, but also the inconsistency typical of an expansion-style club finding its footing in a new league, including a stretch of losses that dropped the team down the table. Manager Davide Corti’s group will look to tonight’s game as a chance to string together the kind of form the Cosmos brand has always demanded.

The Club is still tinkering with their roster. The Cosmos released Chevone Marsh on August 3 after a productive output. The New York Cosmos have used a busy stretch since their March 14 season opener to remake parts of the roster, adding proven professional experience up and down the field while moving on from underperforming or departing pieces. Head of soccer Giuseppe Rossi has framed the moves as addressing “a lot of injuries and some bad luck,” with the club bringing in a new starting goalkeeper, a rebuilt central midfield, and fresh attacking options as it pushes for a strong finish to its inaugural USL League One campaign.

Key Additions:

• Will Noecker (DF) — early in the season, from ASC New York (NPSL)

• Javier Garcia (GK) — May 6, via transfer from Athletic Club Boise

• Chevone Marsh (FW) — July 7, signed as a free agent

• Frankie Ljucovic (MF) — July 7, signed from NWS Spirit FC (Australia)

• Lamin Jawneh (FW) —from Texoma FC (pending league/federation approval)

• Michael Chilaka (DF) — from Forward Madison FC

• Ozzie Ramos (MF) — Aug. 3, signed as a free agent

  

(Photos Curtosy New York Cosmos)

Departures:

• Julien Lacher (MF) — late July/early August, mutual parting to accept a college scholarship ( Princeton)

• Chevone Marsh (FW) — Aug. 3, released for a violation of team rules

• Leo Guarino (MF) — early August, released from his contract

• Josué Manzano (MF/W) — early August, loaned to Cuenca Juniors (Ecuador) for the rest of the season

Latest Podcasts with NY Cosmos Soccer Player Frankie Ljucovic and Michael Chilaka

Richmond: Stability Being Tested

The Richmond Kickers, founded in 1993, are among the longest continuously operating professional soccer clubs in the country — a franchise that built its name not on glamour but on community roots, player development and simply outlasting the leagues around it. Richmond won the USISL Premier League title and the U.S. Open Cup in the same magical 1995 season under Dennis Viollet, and remains the only active professional club outside MLS to have won the Open Cup.

( Photo Dennis Viollett Manchester United)

That history of endurance is being tested this year. Entering tonight’s match, the Kickers sit 16th in the 17-team USL League One table, a rough season by any measure for a club that reached the 2022 regular-season title and produced a three-time league MVP in Emiliano Terzaghi. Head coach Darren Sawatzky — now the league’s all-time wins leader — has leaned on the same culture-first approach that carried Richmond through past rebuilds, including the difficult 2014–2019 stretch that preceded the club’s USL League One turnaround.

Richmond’s home form at City Stadium has often been the club’s foundation, backed by the Red Army supporters group and a fan base that has stuck with the team through better seasons than this one. Tonight, that home advantage matters more than usual.

City Stadium’s own history predates the Kickers by more than six decades. Built in 1929, the venue hosted college football, high school championships and the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship from 1995 through 1998, along with U.S. men’s and women’s national team matches, including a 1998 World Cup qualifier that drew nearly 20,000 fans. Since becoming Richmond’s home in 1995, it has become one of the most recognizable and historic grounds in lower-division American soccer — new lighting, a modern sound system and the “RVA is United” mural have kept it current while preserving its character.

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Hinchliffe Stadium, the Cosmos’ own historic home across the Hudson, opened in 1932 and shares a similar story: a landmark venue — one of the few remaining tied to Negro Leagues baseball — restored to serve a new era of soccer.

More Than a Result Tonight

Both clubs have plenty of history to draw on, and both know that history alone doesn’t win games. For the Cosmos, tonight is a chance to build consistency in the first season of a new chapter. For the Kickers, it’s a chance to climb out of the bottom of the table on the field where the club has always found its identity.

The New York Cosmos and Richmond Kickers are two of the most historically important names in American soccer, and tonight, at 7 p.m. ET at City Stadium, broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, both will be trying to write a better next chapter of their 2026 seasons.

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Things are not the same. The Cosmos can’t but players to dominate the competion and the USL League 1 is not a forgiving league. The USL League 1 is a tough competive league where from the top of the table to the bottom, there is no room for error and each team will bring it everyday.

The Cosmos now enter a midsummer break following a subpar opening portion of their return to professional soccer. Results remain inconsistent, goals have been difficult to find and the club continues to sit at the bottom of the USL League One standings.

The Cosmos next match is August 5 against a Richmond side that just about the Cosmos on on the table.

Still, July did not feel completely hopeless.

The club responded to an eight-game losing streak by aggressively revamping the roster with experienced players. There were flashes of better organization, improved defensive play and a growing sense that the Cosmos were beginning to establish a more competitive identity.

Whether that progress leads to a strong finish remains the biggest question heading into the final months of the season.

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The month opened with a 3-0 loss to Greenville Triumph FC at Hinchliffe Stadium.

The final score did not fully reflect how competitive the match was during the opening 45 minutes. The Cosmos controlled 52 percent of possession and created several promising attacking opportunities, but the match changed just before halftime when Brandon Fricke scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Greenville carried that momentum into the second half.

Substitute William Akio scored twice, finding the net in the 57th and 64th minutes to put the match out of reach. The Cosmos made four substitutions shortly afterward in an attempt to change the pace of the game, but they were unable to beat Greenville goalkeeper Amal Knight.

It was another frustrating result during a difficult stretch for the club.

However, the Cosmos quickly received another opportunity at home against FC Naples, a team that was dealing with its own five-game losing streak the following Wednesday.

Marsh Delivers Against FC Naples

The Cosmos responded with one of their best results of the season, earning a 1-0 victory over FC Naples at Hinchliffe Stadium.

Naples controlled 62 percent of possession and completed 414 accurate passes, but the Cosmos remained compact, disciplined and dangerous on the counterattack.

The breakthrough came in the 56th minute.

Newly signee, Chevone Marsh, finished the decisive opportunity to score his first goal for the Cosmos and give New York the lead. Goalkeeper Javier Garcia and the back line handled the pressure from Naples during the closing stages, limiting the visitors to just three shots on target.

The result was especially significant because Marsh represented exactly what the Cosmos hoped to gain through their roster overhaul.

Marsh was practicing with the Cosmos since May, but was not cleared for the league play. He did suit up against Leagua MX Club Santos Laguna and another scimmage against the American Soccer Club on June 24. Both scrimmages also ended in losses. Santos Laguana defeated the Cosmos 2-1 and Amercian Soccer Club beat the Cosmos 2-1. Marsh scored he only goal in the loss to American Soccer Club. Below is the Podcast Jerry Cala had the previledge to interview Chevone Marsh and introduce him to the NY Cosmos Club.

The Jamaican international arrived with more than a decade of professional experience across Jamaica, Finland, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the United States. He also brought a proven USL League One scoring record after producing 20 goals in 62 appearances with Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Against Naples, Marsh provided the type of decisive moment the Cosmos had been missing.

A Positive Performance in Portland

The Cosmos followed the Naples victory with another encouraging performance against Portland Hearts of Pine in the Prinx Tires USL Cup. The final matchup in the USL Cup.

New York battled Portland to a 1-1 draw before falling 4-2 in the penalty shootout at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Goalkeeper Tristan Stephani delivered an excellent performance, recording seven saves while keeping the match scoreless through halftime.

Marsh struck again in the 60th minute to give the Cosmos a 1-0 lead. For the second consecutive match, Ajmeer Spengler helped create the opportunity, highlighting the developing chemistry between two of the club’s most dangerous attacking players.

Portland eventually equalized through Diego Gonzalez in the 80th minute.

Nicholas Mendonca and Nick Zielonka converted their penalties for the Cosmos, but Portland goalkeeper Kashope Oladapo stopped attempts from Spengler and Sebastián Guenzatti to give the Hearts of Pine the shootout victory.

The Cosmos were already eliminated from advancing in the competition, but the performance showed resilience against a Portland team that had defeated them twice earlier in the season.

Another Clean Sheet at Hinchliffe

The defensive improvement continued when the Cosmos returned home to face Corpus Christi FC.

The first meeting between the two clubs ended in a 0-0 draw.

Corpus Christi controlled possession for long stretches, but the Cosmos limited the visitors to only two shots on target. Stephani recorded another clean sheet, while the back line remained organized throughout the match.

New York generated opportunities through Marsh and Spengler and finished with three shots on target, but the Cosmos could not find the decisive finish.

The result gave the club five points from three matches following the Greenville loss.

While that stretch was not perfect, it offered the strongest indication of the month that the Cosmos were moving in a better direction.

Westchester Brings the Cosmos Back Down

Any momentum generated by those performances disappeared during a 3-0 road loss to Westchester SC.

Westchester scored in the seventh minute through Bobby Pierre, placing the Cosmos in an early hole.

New York controlled 53 percent of possession and completed 366 accurate passes, but once again possession did not translate into enough meaningful scoring opportunities.

The match remained 1-0 until the final 15 minutes, when Kyle Evans and Conor McGlynn added goals to seal the result.

The loss exposed one of the Cosmos’ biggest problems throughout the season.

The team can maintain possession and remain competitive for long stretches, but mistakes at critical moments and a lack of consistent finishing continue to decide matches.

The Cosmos and Westchester FC are fast becoming rivals. With the attention of the USL to develop grass roots talent, most of the club’s rosters have some familairity with each other. The close proximity also adds a derby like atomosphere for home and away matches. The two clubs meet up again on Saturday Septem 19 at 5 pm at Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson.

Boise Spoils Peruvian Night

The Cosmos closed their July home schedule with a 2-1 loss to Athletic Club Boise on Peruvian Night at Hinchliffe Stadium. Co Host Jerry Cala was a guest host on the Pitchside Peregrine Podcast previewing the AC Bosie Match.

The opening half was evenly played, with neither team able to find the breakthrough.

Boise took control shortly after halftime when Blake Bodily converted a penalty in the 54th minute. Jake Crull doubled the advantage six minutes later.

The Cosmos pushed forward throughout the final half hour and finished with more shots and more shots on target than Boise.

Guenzatti finally broke through in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but the late goal was not enough to complete the comeback.

The final statistics showed another match in which the Cosmos created enough opportunities to remain competitive. New York finished with 12 shots compared to Boise’s nine and held a 5-3 advantage in shots on target.

Once again, however, the result belonged to the opponent.

The Roster Continues to Change

Photo Credit - NY Cosmos

The biggest story of July may not have been any individual result.

It was the continued transformation of the roster.

After losing eight consecutive matches, the Cosmos front office made it clear that it would not simply wait for the season to improve.

Marsh joined the attack and immediately scored in consecutive matches. We had the honor to bring Emilio Lopez from the The Echaneg FC to break down the halfway mark of the NY Cosmos Season. Below is the episode.

Goalkeeper Javier Garcia arrived with experience in both the USL Championship and USL League One. Garcia previously starred for Texoma FC, earning USL League One Player of the Month honors and establishing himself as one of the league’s top penalty-stopping goalkeepers.

The club also signed Gambian forward Lamin Jawneh, who brought experience from Atlanta United 2, Phoenix Rising FC and Texoma.

In midfield, Frankie Ljucovic joined the Cosmos after spending two seasons in Australia. The former Gonzaga University standout provides another box-to-box option and made his debut against Corpus Christi.

Jordan Chavez has provided leadership and stability in central defense, while Will Noecker earned a professional contract after initially joining the club on a 25-day agreement.

The latest addition is defender Michael Chilaka.

Chilaka joins the Cosmos after playing for Forward Madison FC, where he helped the club record a league-high 11 clean sheets during the 2024 season. He also brings professional experience from Israel and has been praised for his one-on-one defending and ability to distribute the ball from the back.

Cosmos Head of Soccer Giuseppe Rossi believes the recent moves have improved the squad throughout the lineup.

“We’ve made a few moves over the last few weeks that have strengthened the roster from top to bottom,” Rossi said. “We have more depth and more pieces to fit the way we want to play.”

Rossi also acknowledged that injuries and poor fortune have played a role in the club’s struggles.

“We’re starting to get ourselves to full strength, and I expect us to finish the season strong,” he said.

Celebrating the Club’s History

July was also an important month away from the field.

The club hosted a public reception for Cosmos and the Cup: Local Legends – Global Glory at the Charles J. Muth Museum inside Hinchliffe Stadium.

The exhibition highlights the Cosmos’ historic connection to the FIFA World Cup and features rare artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, artwork and interactive displays.

Throughout the club’s history, 24 Cosmos players representing 16 countries have appeared in the World Cup. That group includes Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto Torres, Giorgio Chinaglia and Vladislav Bogićević.

Current Cosmos players joined club legends Bogićević, Alecko Eskandarian and Jan Birkenmeier at the reception, connecting the club’s celebrated past with its latest chapter in Paterson.

Most recent former Cosmos Player to suit up for the USMNT was Haji Wright who had three caps with the Cosmos in 2015.

In April 2016, Haji Wright signed with German club Schalke 04 and quickly made an impression at the youth level. In his debut for Schalke’s under-19 team on April 16, Wright scored twice against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Wright was promoted to Schalke’s first team in May 2017 and was named to the bench for the club’s Bundesliga match against FC Ingolstadt on May 20. The following year, he spent time on trial with 2. Bundesliga side Union Berlin before returning to Schalke.

On November 24, 2018, Wright made his first-team debut, entering as an 88th-minute substitute in Schalke’s 5-2 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg. He went on to make seven Bundesliga appearances for the club.

Wright scored his first Bundesliga goal on December 19, 2018, in a 2-1 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The goal was assisted by fellow American Weston McKennie, marking a memorable moment for two young United States internationals competing in one of Europe’s top league and is now with Coventry.

That history remains one of the Cosmos’ greatest strengths.

The challenge for the current club is building a team on the field that can begin creating new memories for supporters. This exhibit is open until July 31 at the Muth Musuem located at Hunchliffe stadium.

Cosmos Co Host Jerry Cala invited NY Cosmos PA announcer Eddie Virgil on the Podcast and get his perspective on the NY Cosmos and the his journey to the Cosmos.

What Comes Next?

July produced mixed results. A lot of home games, that may not have delivered the resulted expected. We interviewed Brooklyn Native and current NY Cosmos Players Justin Milovanov on the podcast as we are able to the have players on the podcast to introduce them to the Cosmos Fans.

It gives Corti and his staff an opportunity to integrate the newest additions, get injured players healthy and address the recurring issues that have prevented the Cosmos from turning possession and opportunities into goals.

The roster looks deeper than it did when the season began.The performances have occasionally looked sharper.

The optimism surrounding the team is not completely misplaced.

But the final months of the season must provide more than encouraging signs.

At some point, improved play must become victories.

The Cosmos have spent July rebuilding the roster. The next step is proving that the new-look team can consistently compete and begin climbing the USL League One table.

Jerry Cala and Jim Whelan are the weekly hosts of Cosmos Country. Listen on all social media. Cosmos Country also can be found on the New York Cosmos websitehttps://www.nycosmos.com/news-media/

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The Exchange FC website

https://www.theexchangefc.com/atnvexchange/thebackthree.

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PATERSON, N.J— After enduring an eight-game losing streak that threatened to derail their inaugural USL League One season, the New York Cosmos made it clear that standing pat was not an option.

As the club battled injuries, inconsistent results, and a lack of offensive production, head coach Davide Corti and the Cosmos front office went to work, reshaping the roster with proven professionals who understand the demands of winning.

Those moves are already beginning to pay dividends.

Jamaican international Chevone

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Marsh, one of the club’s newest additions, scored the game-winning goal as the Cosmos defeated FC Naples 1-0 at Hinchliffe Stadium. The victory was another indication that New York’s strategy of adding experienced talent may be changing the trajectory of its inaugural season.

Marsh arrived in New Jersey with one of the most accomplished résumés in USL League One. The 31-year-old winger has played professionally for more than a decade in Jamaica, Finland, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and the United States. During two seasons with the Chattanooga Red Wolves, he scored 20 goals in 62 appearances before spending time with Greenville Triumph.

Marsh paid dividends in his first USL league action as Marsh scored against Wednesday Match against FC Naples to help the New York Cosmos with the victory 1-0. After waiting for his visa to be approved, Marsh steadily worked toward match fitness before delivering his first goal in a Cosmos uniform.

His signing is just one piece of a significant roster overhaul.

The Cosmos also strengthened their midfield with the addition of Australian-based midfielder Frankie Ljucovic, whose five-year collegiate career at Gonzaga University was followed by two seasons in Australia’s second division. Ljucovic, a versatile box-to-box midfielder, is expected to become available once the transfer window opens after receiving his International Transfer Certificate.

Earlier this season, the club added veteran goalkeeper Javier Garcia, whose résumé made him one of the most decorated goalkeepers available in USL League One. Garcia earned Player of the Month honors with Texoma FC last season while setting league records for penalty saves and establishing himself as one of the league’s elite shot-stoppers.

Since joining New York, Garcia has provided stability in goal and has quickly become one of the team’s leaders earning the clean

The Cosmos also reinforced their attack with the signing of Gambian forward Lamin Jawneh, another player with extensive professional experience in the American soccer pyramid after stops with Atlanta United 2, Phoenix Rising, and Texoma FC.

Defensively, New York added center back Jordan Chavez, a former Texoma captain whose leadership and experience have solidified the back line throughout the season. Chavez has quickly emerged as one of the club’s defensive anchors alongside goalkeeper Garcia.

The organization’s commitment to adding experienced professionals has not come at the expense of developing younger players.

Defender Will Noecker earned his first professional contract after initially joining the club on a 25-day agreement. His emergence has provided another success story for a Cosmos squad blending veteran leadership with developing talent.

Against FC Naples, that balance was evident.

While Naples controlled possession for much of the evening, the Cosmos remained organized defensively, trusted their experienced players to manage the game, and capitalized when Marsh delivered the decisive goal midway through the second half.

Garcia preserved the clean sheet with another composed performance, while Chavez marshaled the defense despite the early loss of Noecker through injury. Corti was then able to turn to an increasingly deep bench, bringing on Néstor Cabrera, Nick Zielonka, Justin Milovanov, and Augustine Puentes to help close out the victory.

For much of the season, the Cosmos searched for consistency. After dropping eight consecutive matches, the front office responded by aggressively strengthening the roster rather than waiting for results to improve on their own.

Now, the club appears to have identified a formula.

Rather than relying solely on potential, New York has invested in players who have already proven themselves professionally—veterans who have won matches, played meaningful minutes, and understand how to navigate the grind of a long season.

If the victory over FC Naples was any indication, the Cosmos’ roster rebuild may be arriving at exactly the right time.

With experienced reinforcements now throughout the lineup and additional depth becoming available in the coming weeks, New York enters the second half of its inaugural USL League One season looking far different than the club that opened the campaign in March.

The rebuilding process is still underway, but the early returns suggest the Cosmos are beginning to assemble a squad capable of climbing the league table.

The Cosmos Travel to Portland to square off against The Hearts of Pine in the final game in the USL Cup 7 pm at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

By Jim Whelan

For most professional players, an international friendly is another opportunity to prepare for the season ahead.

For New York Cosmos defenders Jordan Chavez and Javier Garcia, Sunday’s match against Liga MX side Santos Laguna was something much more personal.

Both players grew up in Mexican-American families watching Liga MX every weekend. Santos Laguna wasn’t just another club—it was one of the teams they admired while dreaming of becoming professionals themselves.

On Sunday, those dreams became reality.

When the New York Cosmos welcomed Santos Laguna to Hinchliffe Stadium, Chavez and Garcia weren’t simply facing one of Mexico’s historic clubs. They were sharing the field with a team they had watched growing up while representing one of the most iconic brands in American soccer.

“I’ve grown up watching these teams play in Liga MX,” Chavez said before the match. “My family is from Mexico, so to step on the same field as Santos Laguna is a dream come true. You grow up wanting to be in their position.”

For Chavez, the match was never just about the final score.

He viewed the opportunity as another important step in the development of a young Cosmos squad.

“We have younger guys who get to experience this very early in their careers,” Chavez said. “It helps them grow, it helps us grow as a team, and it helps us grow as a club.”

Garcia shared the same perspective.

“I’ve grown up watching Liga MX my whole life,” Garcia said. “It’s an honor to be playing against a club like Santos Laguna. We have a lot to learn from them, but it’s also an opportunity to compete at a high level.”

Neither player approached the contest as simply a friendly.

“Our expectations of ourselves are always high,” Garcia said. “We’re going to approach this match with full intensity. We want to learn from them, but we also want to win.”

Chavez agreed.

“When you put on this badge and wear this uniform, you’re expected to win,” he said. “That’s always in our minds. We want to prepare the best way possible, put on a show for the community, and measure ourselves against one of the best.”

The opportunity itself also demonstrated the enduring strength of the Cosmos brand.

“They don’t come and play just anybody,” Chavez said. “For Santos Laguna to come here says a lot about what this club represents and the history it carries—not just in the United States, but internationally.”

Santos Laguna’s visit to New Jersey also highlighted the club’s growing investment in American soccer beyond the professional game.

Orlegi Sports, the ownership group of Santos Laguna, recently announced a strategic partnership with Coppermine, Maryland’s leading youth sports organization, through the launch of Coppermine Soccer, Powered by Orlegi Sports. The initiative is designed to create a comprehensive youth development pathway, combining Orlegi’s professional methodology with Coppermine’s facilities and operations to help develop the next generation of players in the United States.

That investment reflects the increasing importance of American soccer as international clubs continue to strengthen their presence in the U.S. market.

On the field, Santos Laguna showed the quality expected of one of Liga MX’s established clubs, earning a 2-1 victory before an enthusiastic crowd at Hinchliffe Stadium. Lucas Di Yorio opened the scoring before Diego González added a second goal during Santos’ preseason tour of the United States. The Cosmos found the net late but could not complete the comeback.

Despite the result, Cosmos head coach Davide Corti saw the evening as another important step in the club’s rebuilding process.

“The game was very demanding in terms of tempo, especially in the second half,” Corti said. “We need to do a better job switching the point of attack through our center backs. That’s part of the next step in developing the style of soccer we want to play.”

Corti was encouraged by his team’s second-half response after adjusting its defensive approach.

“In the second half we decided to press much higher instead of sitting back,” he said. “I thought that helped us because when you force teams to play under pressure, it creates more opportunities for us. That’s something we’ll continue moving forward.”

The Cosmos continue to battle injuries, with several key players unavailable.

“We still have players recovering, including Patrick, Koffi and Materazzi,” Corti said. “That’s part of playing a busy schedule. We need everyone healthy and back to full fitness.”

One bright spot for the Cosmos was the performance of newcomer Chevone Marsh, who made an immediate impression.

“I’m very happy with him,” Corti said. “He’s very quick, very intelligent, and helps us both attacking and defending. I think he’s going to have a big impact for us.”

Corti confirmed Marsh has officially signed with the club and is awaiting final league clearance.

Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Corti acknowledged that the organization is continuing to strengthen the roster while asking supporters to remain patient as the project develops.

“The club is working to make the roster stronger because that’s ultimately what we need,” he said. “The players believe in what we’re trying to do. We have to stay mentally strong and not let one goal against us change the way we play.”

Although the Cosmos remain near the bottom of the standings, Corti believes the foundation is beginning to take shape.

“It’s a process,” he said. “I know it’s not easy to see where we are in the table, but building a solid team that plays with personality takes time.”

With promotion and relegation expected to become part of the league structure next season, Corti stressed that every match now carries additional importance.

“Every game is like a final,” he said. “Every point matters. The players are learning, everyone at the club understands what we’re trying to build together, and I’m very positive about the future.”

For Jordan Chavez and Javier Garcia, Sunday’s match represented the fulfillment of childhood dreams.

For Santos Laguna, it reinforced the club’s growing commitment to American soccer through competition and player development.

And for the New York Cosmos, the evening served as another reminder that while victories remain the objective, the club’s return is about something larger—rebuilding one of the sport’s most iconic brands, connecting cultures, inspiring young players, and laying the foundation for a future that everyone inside the organization believes is still ahead.

By Jimmy Whelan | Cosmos Country Podcast

As the United States is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, questions surrounding the country’s player development system continue to grow louder. The recent departure of U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker only added to concerns about whether the United States is producing enough elite talent to compete consistently on the world’s biggest stage.

For longtime coach and former New York Cosmos Academy Director John Fitzgerald, there is no quick fix.

After more than three decades in the game, Fitzgerald has coached at nearly every level of American soccer. His résumé includes collegiate coaching, directing the New York Cosmos Academy, serving with the Olympic Development Program, and now mentoring players with American Soccer Club. His perspective comes not from theory but from years of developing young players and helping them navigate the difficult path to the professional ranks.

One of the latest examples of that journey is New York Cosmos defender Will Noecker.

Noecker’s story is not one of overnight success. After finishing his collegiate career at NC State in 2024, he spent more than a year searching for a professional opportunity. Like many aspiring players, he continued training, playing in USL League Two, and attending trials while waiting for a club to believe in him.

Fitzgerald already knew exactly what kind of player Noecker was becoming. Their relationship began while Fitzgerald watched his son play alongside Noecker at Binghamton University before later coaching him in both USL League Two and the NPSL. What impressed Fitzgerald was never simply Noecker’s ability on the ball.

Instead, it was his professionalism. That mentality became the foundation of Noecker’s career.

“He always controlled the controllables,” Fitzgerald said during a recent appearance in a recent interview. “He never let setbacks change his approach.” The American Soccer Club and the New York Cosmos squared off on Wednesday night on Stony Brook University on Long Island. The American Soccer Club won 2-1 in the friendly. Noecker now plays for the NY Cosmos, but the bond between player and former coach still exits.

While playing under Fitzgerald, Noecker was entrusted with the captain’s armband despite being surrounded by veteran players while a member of the American Soccer Club. Fitzgerald believed his leadership, maturity, and consistency naturally earned the respect of the locker room.

Their relationship extended beyond the field when Noecker spent a summer living with Fitzgerald and his family while competing in USL League Two.

“You really get to know someone when they’re living in your house,” Fitzgerald said. “His character matched everything we saw on the field.”

When Fitzgerald later helped assemble an American Soccer Club roster for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Noecker was one of his first phone calls. Fitzgerald also reached out to former Cosmos executive Erik Stover, believing Noecker deserved an opportunity to train with the club.

That opportunity initially came in the form of a modest 25-day contract.

Rather than becoming discouraged by the temporary deal, Noecker approached it exactly as Fitzgerald expected.

The objective wasn’t to become a starter overnight. It was to earn the next opportunity.

First, make the game-day roster.

Then earn a full contract.

Then compete for a place in the starting eleven.

One step at a time.

That patient approach paid off.

Noecker’s performances earned him a full-season contract, and he has since become an important contributor for a Cosmos team beginning to establish itself in USL League One.

His growth mirrored the club’s resilience during the Cosmos’ recent 2-2 draw against Forward Madison on one of his early starts in the season. Trailing by two goals at halftime in difficult weather conditions, the Cosmos refused to panic. Instead, they treated the second half as an entirely new match, scoring twice to earn a valuable road point and extend their unbeaten streak.

For Noecker, the comeback reflected the mentality that has defined his own career.

“I just kept my head down and worked,” he said. “I believed it would work out. I just had to be ready when the opportunity came.”

While Noecker’s story highlights individual perseverance, Fitzgerald believes it also illustrates a larger issue within American soccer.

When he helped establish the Cosmos Academy, the objective was never to create another expensive youth club. The academy operated under U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy model, where professional clubs invested in player development rather than relying on families to finance it.

The Cosmos actively identified talented players throughout New York City, many from immigrant communities where soccer was part of everyday life. Fitzgerald believes too many gifted players never receive those opportunities today because the sport has become increasingly dependent on pay-to-play models.

“The biggest issue is pay-to-play,” Fitzgerald said. “Development has to become the priority again.”

That philosophy remains central to Fitzgerald’s work with American Soccer Club, where the long-term vision includes creating pathways that remove financial barriers for talented young players.

For Fitzgerald, developing professionals has never been measured solely by contracts or championships.

It is measured by seeing players prepared for the next challenge.

Noecker embodies that philosophy.

His journey from overlooked college graduate to professional defender with one of America’s most historic clubs demonstrates that persistence, preparation, and character still matter.

As the Cosmos continue to build a new era in professional soccer, players like Will Noecker represent more than promising talent.

They represent the type of player American soccer needs to continue producing if the country hopes to compete consistently on the world stage.

The New York Cosmos may still be writing the next chapter of their storied history, but through players like Noecker and mentors like Fitzgerald, the club is quietly demonstrating that success is built the same way it always has been—through opportunity, development, and an unwavering belief in the value of hard work.

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By Jimmy Whelan Co Host Cosmos Country Podcast

Pelé.

In the world of sports, there are very few figures recognizable by a single name. Pelé was one of them.

When the Brazilian icon joined the New York Cosmos in 1975, he did more than elevate a soccer club—he introduced millions of Americans to the world’s game. His arrival ignited one of the earliest waves of soccer enthusiasm in the United States, helping fill stadiums and making the Cosmos an international brand.

Nearly 50 years later, as the FIFA World Cup once again captivates American audiences and the U.S. Men’s National Team advances to the knockout stage, a familiar question returns: Has soccer finally taken permanent root in the United States?

This Sunday, North Jersey will provide another chapter in that story.

The New York Cosmos will host Liga MX powerhouse Santos Laguna at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson in an international friendly that connects the club’s celebrated past with its newest beginning.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The match marks the first time the Cosmos have hosted a Mexican club since Club Veracruz visited on June 24, 1973. It also continues a tradition established during the club’s glory years, when international exhibitions against some of the world’s best clubs helped build the Cosmos into a global brand.

Those exhibitions featured legendary opponents, including Pelé’s former club Santos FC, and showcased world-class soccer to American audiences long before Major League Soccer existed. The original North American Soccer League folded in 1985, bringing the Cosmos’ first era to an end.

The club returned in 2013, winning championships and restoring much of its prestige before financial difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic forced a second shutdown. In June 2025, however, the Cosmos announced another comeback, joining USL League One for the 2026 season.

Unlike previous relaunches, this version of the club arrives during a period of significant change in American soccer. The United Soccer League ( USL) has announced plans to introduce promotion and relegation—a system used throughout much of the world but still absent from Major League Soccer. The USL is still operational during the World Cup while the MLS decided to pause their season.

At the same time, the USL has experienced growing pains. Several clubs have ceased operations or stepped away from the professional game in recent years, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of building sustainable professional soccer in the United States. The announcement of Texoma FC to suspend operations prior to the USL 1 season led to an opening and the friendly was scheduled.

Founded in Torreón, Coahuila, Santos Laguna is one of Mexico’s most respected clubs, winning multiple Liga MX championships while building one of the country’s strongest supporter cultures. The club regularly competes at the highest level of Mexican football and arrives in the United States as part of its preseason preparations for the 2026 Apertura season.

“This will be the first international friendly we host at Hinchliffe Stadium, and we see it as the beginning of something special,” said Cosmos CEO Erik Stover. “Our goal is to host several matches like this each year, bringing different cultures, communities, and supporters together through the game while giving fans the opportunity to experience high-level international soccer right here in North Jersey.”

Santos Laguna President Alejandro Irarragorri Kalb said the trip is equally significant for his club.

“This match represents a tremendous opportunity for our club,” he said. “We are excited to face a club with such a rich tradition as the Cosmos during an important preseason in the United States. It is also a great opportunity to reconnect with our Guerreros Sin Fronteras supporters across the region.”

Santos Laguna’s visit also reflects the growing investment international clubs are making in American soccer. Parent company Orlegi Sports recently announced a strategic partnership with Maryland-based Coppermine, one of the nation’s largest youth sports organizations, underscoring the belief that the United States remains one of soccer’s fastest-growing markets.

For the Cosmos, Sunday’s match also serves an important competitive purpose. During the club’s recent press conference, Cosmos Country Podcast co Host Jerry Cala asked head coach Davide Corti how he plans to balance the prestige of facing a Liga MX opponent with the demands of a long league season. Corti emphasized that the nearly two-week break in league play makes the match an ideal opportunity to evaluate his squad.

“Every game gives you information,” Corti said. “Whether it comes against a top team like Santos Laguna or another opponent, it gives you opportunities to try different systems and continue preparing for the rest of the season.”

The symbolism extends beyond the scoreboard.

Both clubs wear green jerseys that have become synonymous with their identities. More importantly, both organizations represent communities where soccer is deeply woven into the culture.

As fans from throughout New Jersey, New York, and the region gather at Hinchliffe Stadium, Sunday’s match will celebrate more than ninety minutes of soccer. It will celebrate the game’s ability to unite cultures, connect generations, and remind supporters why the New York Cosmos remain one of the most recognizable names in American soccer.

Perhaps that is Pelé’s greatest legacy.

He showed America what soccer could become.

Nearly five decades later, the Cosmos are once again inviting fans to imagine what comes next.

Cosmos Country Podcast with Cosmos CEO Erik Stover

Match Information

New York Cosmos vs. Santos Laguna (Liga MX)

Sunday, June 28

5:00 p.m.

Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson, New Jersey

Tickets are available at: https://tickets.nycosmos.com/event/cosmos-vs-santos-laguna-liga-mx-qkabxl

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