A newly reported Politico story traces Donald Trump's early interest in soccer to the heyday of the New York Cosmos, the North American Soccer League team that drew international stars like Pelé in the 1970s. The report suggests the club's glamour and cultural cachet — intertwined with New York venues like Studio 54 — first captured Trump's attention, according to sources familiar with his views.
The Cosmos, once a magnet for celebrities and global talent, are credited with seeding soccer's growth in the United States. Fifty years after their peak, the team's influence continues to shape the sport's American trajectory, the article argues. Trump's documented connection offers a personal, anecdotal link between an iconic franchise and the current political landscape.
Politico's piece draws on historical accounts and unnamed associates to frame the Cosmos as a pivotal force in American soccer culture. The team's flashy, cosmopolitan image in the 1970s and early 1980s preceded the modern soccer boom, including the U.S. hosting the 2026 World Cup. The report does not provide new polling or data on Trump's current views on the sport.
This narrative, however, is built largely on retrospective interpretation rather than documented policy or recent public statements from Trump on soccer. Critics may view the connection as anecdotal or overstated, given the many other factors and individuals that have driven soccer's rise in the U.S. over the past half-century.
While the Cosmos' legacy is well-documented as part of American soccer history, tying it directly to a former president's personal fandom remains a speculative, though colorful, historical note.