NEW YORK: Brazilian legend Pele is expected to join the New York Cosmos, his former club, in Havana for a match Tuesday, the first by any US professional team in Cuba since 1999.
The Cosmos announced details of the historic trip Thursday for a match that will be shown on US television between the Cosmos, a North American Soccer League side one level below Major League Soccer, and Cuba's national squad.
Pele is expected to accompany the Cosmos on the flight to Cuba and attend the match, according to the club.
It was the arrival of Pele with the earlier version of the Cosmos in 1975 that sparked the first major interest in football by American sports fans and the team evolved into an all-star squad with Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia before Pele retired in 1977 and the league folded in 1984.
The revived Cosmos, sparked by Spain and Real Madrid star forward Raul, have five wins and three draws in eight games, the best start in team history, as the team prepares to fly Sunday.
Raul and Brazilian midfielder Leonardo Fernandes each have three goals in eight matches to share the Cosmos scoring lead.
"The New York Cosmos are extremely excited and honored to make the historic journey to Cuba next week to play the Cuba national team," Cosmos chief executive Erik Stover said.
"This is a trip of a lifetime for our players, staff and fans. An added bonus is it gives our undefeated team an opportunity to test its talents on national television against a very worthy Cuba team."
Not since Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles played in Havana in 1999 has an American pro team played in Cuba due to political barriers between the nations.
Not since the Chicago Sting visited Cuba in 1978 for a match has a football squad from the United States played in the Communist island nation.
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