New York Cosmos

The New York Cosmos are one of football's most mythologised clubs, born in 1970 and quickly becoming the most glamorous team in the world. Playing in the North American Soccer League, the Cosmos brought Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, and Carlos Alberto to New York, filling Giants Stadium with crowds that seemed impossible for American soccer at the time. Their legacy transcends sport: they helped plant the seed that would eventually grow into the thriving US football culture of today.

Founded in 1970, the Cosmos were the dominant force in the NASL, winning league titles in 1972, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1982. After the NASL collapsed in 1984, the club was revived in various forms, with the green and gold identity always at the heart of each comeback.

The Cosmos wore some of the most striking kits in world football history during the NASL years. Their Umbro-designed green and gold home shirts from the late 1970s, featuring a bold chest stripe, became iconic worldwide, worn by Pele in front of roaring New York crowds who had fallen for the beautiful game. When the club was later revived, restoring the green and gold palette was a deliberate act of homage to those unforgettable years.