http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/0...june-ending-pro-sports-embargo.html?referrer= Apparently we beat the Boston Red Sox to the punch
WSJ picked up the story as well.... The New York Cosmos are set to become the first professional sports team to play a game in Cuba since the restoration of diplomatic relations with the U.S. in December, according a source close to the team. The Cosmos are expected to play the Cuban national team in Havana on June 2, just before the Cubans participate in the biennial Gold Cup tournament in the U.S. this summer. The game hadn’t been confirmed as of Sunday afternoon, but a Cosmos spokesman told The Wall Street Journal, “We’ve had meaningful dialogue with the Cuban Federation and will provide further information in due course.” Official confirmation is expected later this week. http://www.wsj.com/articles/cosmos-expected-to-play-cuban-national-team-in-havana-1425861900
That headline is incorrect. The Embargo is still in force against Cuba. Obama has normalized diplomatic relations but the Embargo is under several acts of Congress. Those have not been repealed. I would also disagree with this: The U.S. national team played there in 2008. They are a professional team.
That field is horrific. Everyone watch their ankles, and stuff enough cigars wherever they won't search!
Oops, right you are. After seeing Conan O'Brien's visit to Cuba being described as the first by a talk show since before the embargo, I got mixed up and thought that that is what was being said here. Sorry!
What The Telegraph had to say... New York Cosmos football team to visit Havana "Ping pong" diplomacy between the Chinese and US table tennis teams helped pave the way for a restoration of ties between the two countries and now it's football's turn for a role in rapprochement Although the Cosmos only play in the second tier of US football, they are the country's most famous club thanks to their history in the sport's early days in America with players such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. Their current team is guaranteed to attract major interest in Spanish-speaking Cuba as it includes former Spain stars Raul and Marcos Senna as well as several players from other Latin American countries. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ork-Cosmos-football-team-to-visit-Havana.html
New York Cosmos to Play in Cuba as Part of 'Football Diplomacy' Brazilian legend Pele is to join the glamorous New York soccer team's traveling party as United States and Cuba continue to break ice. http://sports.ndtv.com/football/new...to-play-in-cuba-as-part-of-football-diplomacy
Great day for US Soccer, FBI beat Blatter and the Cosmos beat Cuba Highlights from Tuesday night's friendly in Havana:
Cuba - Cosmos documentary from "La Casa Del Futbol" Canal Plus Espana CUBA-COSMOS: FÚTBOL PARA EL FIN DEL BLOQUEO DIRECT LINK Source @brentgoulet @nanoGVSP @Sam U El @oneeyedfool @La Trucha @Cesar T @USAsports6