Cosmos send letter to US Soccer

Last week, the Cosmos send out an open letter to US Soccer regarding the exclusion of the remaining NASL teams (Cosmos, Miami, Jacksonville) from the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Cosmos pointed out their grievances with the Open Cup decision citing the following examples:

• The Cosmos completed the entry paperwork for the 2018 USOC ahead of the December 29, 2017 deadline;
• • U.S. Soccer accepted the application and accepted the entry fee payment from the Cosmos;
• Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC are being allowed in the tournament, despite having moved from NASL to USL (with Indy Eleven doing so after the December 29 entry deadline);
• There are several teams (LAFC, Nashville SC, Las Vegas Lights FC, Fresno FC) that will be participating in the 2018 USOC despite the fact these clubs never fielded teams before 2018;
• Miami won the 2017 NASL Spring and Fall seasons and the Cosmos played in the 2017 NASL Championship Final
• Besides receiving automatic entry into the 2018 USOC, certain MLS and USL franchises (Portland Timbers, New York Red Bulls and Oklahoma City Energy) have been allowed to field 2 teams each in the 2018 USOC

The Cosmos have suggested the following solutions to the USSF:

• removing the first-year clubs consisting of LAFC, Nashville SC, Las Vegas Lights FC and Fresno FC from the 2018 USOC;
• removing the subsidiary teams of the Portland Timbers, New York Red Bulls and Oklahoma City Energy FC (all of which play in the PDL) from the 2018 USOC
• any other equitable resolution which allows the three NASL clubs to compete in the 2018 USOC.

Perhaps these words will fall upon unlistening ears, but it never hurts to try. Read the Cosmos’ letter in full here