July 11 – The most iconic name in American soccer is back. The Cosmos – dropping the ‘New York’ to reflect their new New Jersey home – are set to return in 2026 under the ownership of North Jersey Pro Soccer, the Paterson-based organisation that’s just pulled off one of the most significant acquisitions in recent soccer history.
The Cosmos badge carries weight that few in American soccer can match, harking back to the glory days when Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore and Carlos Alberto graced the pitch at Giants Stadium in front of 70,000-plus crowds during the late 1970s.
The original Cosmos were American soccer’s first genuine superstars. Between 1971 and 1985, they transformed the domestic game, attracting global legends who turned soccer into a mainstream spectacle. Pelé’s arrival in 1975 changed everything – suddenly, American soccer mattered on the world stage.
The club’s success was staggering. They won North American Soccer League championships and drew crowds that modern Major League Soccer teams would kill for. When the NASL folded in 1984, the Cosmos went with it, leaving behind a legacy that would haunt American soccer for decades.
Rocco Commisso, the Italian-born billionaire who made his fortune in telecommunications, revived the Cosmos in 2012. Under his ownership, they signed Spanish legend Raúl and secured a kit deal with Emirates, creating genuine buzz around the brand’s return.
But the revival never quite captured the original magic. The club bounced between leagues – from the NASL to the National Premier Soccer League to the National Independent Soccer Association – never finding stable footing or recapturing that 1970s zeitgeist.
Enter Erik Stover, the co-founder and CEO of the new operation. This isn’t some soccer novice taking a punt – Stover’s CV reads like a who’s who of American sports administration. He worked at Giants Stadium before joining the New York Red Bulls as managing director, overseeing the construction of Red Bull Arena and securing Thierry Henry’s marquee signing.
Crucially, Stover has Cosmos DNA. He joined Commisso’s version as Chief Operating Officer in 2012, helping orchestrate the Raúl signing and laying the groundwork for the club’s revival.
The Cosmos will play at Paterson’s historic Hinchliffe Stadium, a 7,800-seat venue built in 1932 that’s received a $2.5 million upgrade courtesy of the new owners. They’ll compete in USL League One from 2026 – not the glamorous return many envisioned, but a realistic foundation for sustainable growth.
The question isn’t whether the Cosmos name still carries cachet – it absolutely does. The question is whether this new incarnation can build something lasting rather than another false dawn.
American soccer needs its legends. The Cosmos are back where they belong.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1752212914labto1752212914ofdlr1752212914owedi1752212914sni@o1752212914fni1752212914