The Cosmos Copa Championship. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495 Sports
The New York Cosmos officially announced the results of the group stage draw for the seventh annual grassroots tournament Cosmos Copa. On Monday night, 32 amateur international soccer teams from around the tri state area discovered who their opponents would be this summer.
The group draw was done World Cup style, with ping pong balls determining which group teams ended up in. Each of the eight groups comprise four teams who will play each other in a tournament format similar to the World Cup.
Leading the draw was former New York Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing, who currently serves as an ambassador for the club.
“This is a formal tournament for what really is grassroots in New York,” Messing said. “These are our people, this is our city. I’m very happy the Cosmos are involved.
“We’re obviously the greatest melting pot in the world,” Messing said of New York. “As big as the Cosmos are, these are our people, this is our city.”
“I believe it’s a great experience against high-level competition. You get to play against the best players in New York,” NYC Paraguay president Dario Cabanas said. “That’s a great experience for any player.”
The Cosmos will again team up with staff from its official charity partner, Street Soccer USA (SSUSA) to produce the tournament, including facilitating the day-to-day operations of Cosmos Copa.
SSUSA is a non-profit organization that uses the power of soccer to help at risk and homeless youth and young adults dramatically transform their lives. They utilize the power of sports, in this case soccer, to promote player development not merely on the field, but in every aspect of life.
The Cosmos Copa group stage kicks off on July 4 at Randall’s Island with the draw in full as follows:
2015 COSMOS COPA GROUP STAGE
Group A: Senegal, Greece, England, Kosova
Group B: Haiti, Guinea, Holland, Ukraine
Group C: El Salvador, Peru, Ghana, Guyana
Group D: Poland, Mexico, Colombia, Spain
Group E: Ireland, Paraguay, Japan, Jamaica
Group F: France, Uruguay, Chile, Honduras
Group G: Gambia, Ecuador, Antigua, Scotland
Group H: USA, Albania, Argentina, Croatia
Cosmos Copa is the nation’s preeminent amateur adult soccer tournament that unites New York City’s diverse community through sport. In this international tournament, the best soccer players in the tri-state area represent their country of heritage. Local teams representing 32 different countries will compete for the title of “Cosmos Copa NYC Champion” – in honor of both New York City as well as their country of origin.
For more information on the Cosmos Copa fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
For more information on Street Soccer USA Fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here: