Arabian Gulf League club Al Shabab will host Major League Soccer side New York Cosmos in a friendly match at the Maktoum Bin Rashid on Thursday.
Al Shabab announced the fixture on their official Twitter account, stating: “A friendly match has been organised between Al Shabab Club and New York Cosmos. Our fans are invited to attend the game at the Maktoum Bin Rashid Stadium.”
New York Cosmos was originally formed in 1970 and was the strongest franchise in the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL), with football icons such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia on their roster. The original Cosmos were five-time NASL champions.
The franchise was dissolved in 1985 when the NASL folded, but the rise in popularity of the MLS resulted in the reforming of the Cosmos in 2010. They will start competing in the MLS from the start of the 2014 season.
Among the star names to look out for at Thursday’s friendly with Shabab will be Spain’s European Championship-winning midfielder Marcos Senna, who joined Cosmos in 2013.
The New York side also boasts a football icon among their backroom staff, with former Manchester United and France striker Eric Cantona the club’s Director of Soccer.
The Cosmos already have strong ties to the UAE through their shirt sponsors Fly Emirates, while Honourary President Pele is also a Global Ambassador for the airline.
The match will kick-off at 5.30pm UAE time.
