Michael Battista is a New Jersey-based writer who covers the Cosmos and other parts of the Tri-State soccer scene. His work appears in US Soccer, TheCup.US, and Protagonist Soccer. He was the NASL's last intern.
A 2026 US Open Cup champion is about to be crowned, while eight local amateur teams soon face the next round of qualifying as they seek a spot in the 2027 Open Cup field.
US Soccer confirmed the launch of a new cup competition for the highest tier of professional women's soccer, with a $1.1 million prize on the line.
This 2027 qualifier between New Jersey-based amateur teams had everything: Wobbly goalposts delaying kickoff, a mid-match blackout, rowdy fans, red cards, a goal from a 43-year-old player-coach, a nasty head-to-head collision, and so much more.
Paraguay ceded possession and kept a clean sheet despite 14 shot attempts for Colombia, earning a 1-0 win in front of a pro-Colombia crowd at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Erik Stover, Chief Executive Officer of the Cosmos, is officially out of that role, according to an announcement shared by the club.
The second of four planned qualifying rounds for the next US Open Cup features nine matches with amateur teams from New York or New Jersey trying to inch one step closer to the 2027 tournament's field.
A dramatic 98th-minute goal from leading USL League One scorer Conor McGlynn gave Westchester SC a 2-1 away win and made it two wins from three meetings with the Cosmos in all competitions this season.
Red Bull New York struggled since the World Cup break ended but snapped a six-match winless streak last time out, though they're still waiting for striker Julian Hall to end his goal drought, and still looking for more defensive stability and consistency.
Columbus Crew, Orlando City SC, Colorado Rapids, and St. Louis City SC each have dealt with up-and-down seasons, but each team enters the Open Cup semifinals with new talent in place and with clear paths to silverware and a Concacaf Champions Cup berth.
After going unbeaten in four, including the first three positive road results of the 2026 season, the Cosmos came back to earth by losing 2-1 at home to fellow USL League One expansion side Sarasota Paradise.
NYCFC and MLS now confirm Edison, New Jersey, and a soon-to-be-completed 6,500-seat multi-purpose stadium will become the new home for a relocated and rebranded version of New York City FC II as part of MLS Next Pro's new Hometown Soccer Holdings initiative.
The 2027 US Open Cup will mark the first time all the American teams in MLS compete in the tournament since 2023, with the 27 MLS sides set to enter next year's tournament in July during the Round of 64.
Beginning in September, 22 teams from across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will be competing for a spot in the tournament field.
The Cosmos are on a modest two-match winning streak, getting better results thanks to a flurry of mid-season signings and improvements made by some key season-long contributors.
New franchise USL Long Island plans to launch a third-division men's team at James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University, a direct competitor for nearby The Island FC launching in 2027 in MLS Next Pro.
New faces in defense helped the Cosmos keep a fourth clean sheet of the season, with Sebastián Guenzatti's sixth goal of the season enough to earn the home team a 1-0 win at Hinchliffe Stadium on Saturday night.
