America’s International Team
Known as “America’s International Team,” the Cosmos have often welcomed the world’s top clubs, national teams, and all-stars to Cosmos Country.
The Cosmos hosted the annual Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup from 1980-84, featuring many of the world’s top clubs, winning the tournament in 1980, 1983, and 1984.
“We’ve never claimed to be the best team in the world, though our eventual goal is to fight for that title. But because of Pelé and the other stars that followed him, we are the most famous team and we use that status to be able to challenge the top teams. We feel that the only way to eventually be the best is to play the best – as often as possible. We’ve never shied away from anyone,” Ahmet Ertegün (1980)
American midfielder Rick Davis controls the ball against the reigning World Cup champion Argentina National Team at Giants Stadium on June 6, 1979.
Cosmos host FC St. Pauli (Germany) at Rocco Commisso Stadium in Manhattan on May 23, 2019.
The Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup
Cosmos defeated FC Barcelona (Spain) and Udinese (Italy) to win the 1984 Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup.