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The New York Cosmos will participate in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this season, after they won their appeal to the USSF. Fellow NASL teams Miami FC and the Jacksonville Armada will also participate in the competition.
#USOC2018 @JaxArmadaFC, @TheMiamiFC (2) & @NYCosmosB invited to 2018 @opencup, have until Monday April 2 @ 4 p.m. to confirm participation.
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) March 30, 2018
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New York will enter the competition in the play-in round beginning May 5th or 6th, likely playing against another NPSL team or a PDL side.
In the club’s official statement, Rocco Commisso said the following:
Participation in the US Open Cup means so much to Cosmos supporters, as it is a chance for team to potentially test their might against MLS talents such as NYCFC (who the Cosmos are currently undefeated against) and the New York Red Bulls. It will be interesting to see how this competition will affect the assembling of the remainder of the Cosmos roster.
Can’t express how happy I am to have my club back in the Cup. This tournament was what our crews revolved around. It’s everything. We’re still an NPSL team that will be semi-professional but even just one game keeps that sense of normalcy and continuity we deserve. Vamos Cosmos.
— Patrick Infurna (@pinfurna_) March 31, 2018
So @NYCosmosB have some work to do on the roster before they are ready to put on an Open Cup showing worthy of 2014, 2015 and 2016 and avoid a 2017-like disaster...
— Chris Kivlehan (@kivlehan) March 31, 2018
Glad to see these clubs getting a shot at this year’s Open Cup (and crossing my fingers they land far far away from @StockadeFC in the draw :) https://t.co/0ePWsTEC7U
— Dennis Crowley (@dens) March 31, 2018