New York Cosmos vs. Cuban National Team
Tuesday, June 2 at 5 p.m. ET
Estadio Pedro Marrero in Havana, Cuba
For the New York Cosmos and the Cuban National Team, this friendly is an opportunity to bring neighboring nations together through sport for the first time in over a decade. Not since the 1999 Baltimore Orioles has a professional U.S. sports team competed in Cuba, and a professional soccer club from the States hasn't played there since Clive Toye's Chicago Sting in 1978.
Looking at this matchup from a football perspective, Cuba will use it as a tuneup for upcoming international competition. Specifically World Cup qualifiers, which begin for the home side on June 10.
New York remains undefeated and atop the NASL Spring Season standings. This coming weekend the Cosmos have a bye, but they can still clinch their first spring title if the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Minnesota United FC both lose or draw their games. After that it's the Spring home finale on Saturday, June 13 against Jacksonville Armada FC. The Cosmos are also set to host New York City FC at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium on Wednesday, June 17 in the fourth round of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup.