EXCLUSIVE: Cosmos team up with American Cancer Society ahead of NASL rebirth

The New York Cosmos have agreed a major partnership with the American Cancer Society as the club prepares to make its return to the North American Soccer League next month.

In what is being termed a groundbreaking deal for the US sports market, the Cosmos will carry ACS branding on its shirt sleeves in a bid to promote health and cancer awareness. Serving as the club’s corporate responsibility partner, ACS branding will appear alongside that of Emirates. The Dubai-based airline last month agreed a three-year deal, from 2013-14 to 2015-16, to become a founding partner of the Cosmos, along with its front-of-shirt sponsor.

The ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organisation dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. The partnership will also see the Cosmos team up with the ACS in grassroots activities to help raise money for the organisation.

Terms of the agreement, which is due to be officially announced later today, were not disclosed. The historic Cosmos franchise played its last NASL game in 1984 and will return to the league for its first game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on August 3.