Cosmos Country

It's not the ideal start when it comes to a win/loss record as the Cosmos drop their opener 3-1, but boy does it feel good to be back! Jimmy & Jerry break down the Cosmos home opener in this week's recap episode of "Cosmos Country" ! The fans were loud, the atmosphere was quite good and it will only get better with time! The fellas break down the match and what to expect going forward this season! Enjoy! #Cosmos #NYCosmos #CosmosCountry

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's MATCH WEEK! We're getting you ready here at "Cosmos Country Podcast" with another player! This week Jerry Cala sits down with Nick Zielonka! "Zielonka, 23, hails from Wallington, NJ, and after starring for Wallington High School and the New Jersey Stallions, he played at both UMass Amherst and Kentucky. A strong, sturdy, two-footed striker, Zielonka tallied 13 goals and 14 assists for UMass in 2020-23 and another two (plus four assists) for Kentucky during a graduate school campaign in 2024.

Zielonka played in USL League Two for the Hudson Valley Hammers of Newburgh, NY and scored 31 goals across four summer seasons (2022-25), including nine in 2025. He also spent part of spring 2025 with renowned local amateur club New York Pancyprian Freedoms and started two U.S. Open Cup matches, including a first-round upset of MLS Next Pro side FC Cincinnati 2." - From NYCosmos.com - Enjoy!! Let's Go Cosmos!! #NYCosmos #NickZielonka #USL

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A very special episode going down this week as we have finally hit MATCH WEEK! This Saturday The NY Cosmos will open chapter 3 of their historic franchise against The Portland Hearts Of Pine! Jimmy & Jerry do a crossover episode with Donald & Shawn who are members of Dirigo Union! They go over the squads and preview the match and keep things as civil as possible but come 3.14.26, bring the energy because it's time for Cosmos Soccer!! #NYCosmos #CosmosCountry #DirigoUnion

Support All Things Mile21 Media by subscribing to the Channel and following along on IG @Mile21Media - And for all your podcasting and rental needs, Follow @Stellar19Studios on IG to rent space to create your own show with Mile21 Media!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the opener right around the corner, "Cosmos Country" brings in another member of the team in Ajmeer Spengler! Spengler currently plays as a midfielder for the New York Cosmos in USL League One. He signed with the club on December 12, 2025, ahead of their 2026 debut season. Some of his career highlights include; Led the expansion side in scoring during the 2025 season with 9 goals and 4 assists in 29 appearances for Texoma FC and Earned AAC First Team All-Conference honors and was named the 2023 Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He recorded 9 goals and 8 assists in 36 matches for the Bulls! Hear about his expectations for the Cosmos and so much more with Jimmy & Jerry at the helm! Enjoy! #Cosmos #NYCosmos #CosmosCountry

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cosmos are getting closer and closer to their opening game on March 14th 2026 so why not add a former VOICE of the team. He's featured on WFAN, mentioned so many times through all their programming, and has done some incredible work for the second stint of the Cosmos, and that is none other than WFAN's Peter Schwartz! Peter joins Jerry & Jimmy on this week's "Cosmos Country" podcast to discuss his former role and what he expects of the 2026 and third version of this historic franchise! Enjoy! #NYCosmos #USL #PeterSchwartz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A very special episode of "Cosmos Country" is officially on the air as Jimmy & Jerry sit down with Giuseppe Rossi! Expectations, Culture and more in this episode. This excerpt taken from NyCosmos.com "PATERSON, NJ (July 8, 2025)—North Jersey Pro Soccer (NJPS) has named former Italian national team star and Passaic County product Giuseppe Rossi as the organization’s vice chairman and head of soccer. As the latter, Mr. Rossi will take charge of NJPS’s men’s and women’s professional teams and oversee the hiring of coaches and technical staff, as well as player identification, acquisition and development.

Mr. Rossi, 38, also is an investor in NJPS, which is majority owned by Baye Adofo-Wilson, a Paterson, NJ, native, developer, attorney and former Deputy Mayor of Newark, NJ. NJPS will field a men’s team in USL League One beginning in spring 2026 and is planning to launch a women’s pro side in the coming years. Both teams will play at Hinchliffe Stadium, a refurbished 7,800-seat National Historic Landmark in downtown Paterson.

“Giuseppe was a North Jersey kid who grew up in Clifton and dedicated himself to reaching the highest level,” Mr. Adofo-Wilson said. “He represents everything we want North Jersey Pro Soccer to be—a club that offers opportunities to the talented and ambitious young men and women, and boys and girls, of North Jersey and helps them embrace what’s possible.”

Mr. Rossi is the son of Italian immigrants, Fernando and Cleonilde Rossi. He played youth soccer in Clifton and then at 12, moved with his father to Italy to join Parma’s academy. In 2004, Mr. Rossi launched his pro career at Manchester United. Over the next two decades, he played for multiple clubs in England, Spain, Italy and the U.S., enjoying outstanding spells at Villarreal and Fiorentina in particular.

He scored in double digits for four straight seasons at Villarreal (2007-11), including a spectacular 32-goal haul in 2010-11 as El Submarino Amarillo finished fourth in La Liga and advanced to the UEFA Europa League semifinals. Mr. Rossi then scored 17 goals for Fiorentina in 2013-14.

A lifelong dream to represent his parents’ homeland began coming true in 2003 with Italy’s U- 16 team. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Mr. Rossi led the tournament with four goals as Italy reached the quarterfinals. A couple months later, he earned the first of his 30 senior caps in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria. Mr. Rossi would go on to score seven goals for the Azzurri—including two against the U.S. in a memorable 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup match—and he captained Italy for the first time in November 2010.

Everything was possible for the kid from Clifton.

Mr. Rossi ended his playing career in 2023 and has returned to North Jersey to help cultivate the next generation of local talent. His native knowledge of the area, his vast experience at soccer’s pinnacle and his array of connections abroad make him the ideal choice to guide NJPS’s sporting operation.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to come home and build teams that represent North Jersey and connect this unique area to the world’s game. I was fortunate to have the contacts I needed to get started. Many players don’t, and too many fall through the cracks,” Mr. Rossi said. “We’re going to field winning teams with local talent, and we’re going to do it at an incredible stadium that I think is going to become an iconic American soccer venue.”

NJPS intends to forge partnerships with area youth clubs that evolve into a comprehensive developmental infrastructure reminiscent of those found around the world. More information on those plans and partnerships will be released in the coming months.

“We’re excited to bring Giuseppe aboard because we think there should be more Giuseppe Rossis. There’s so much potential here in North Jersey,” said NJPS CEO Erik Stover, who previously served as managing director of the New York Red Bulls and COO of the New York Cosmos. “He understands how soccer is supposed to work—how good players are identified and nurtured—and there’s no better place for him to start the next phase of his inspirational career.”

NJPS plans to unveil its team branding on July 10 at Hinchliffe Stadium, and the club will begin accepting membership deposits on July 11. News regarding additional technical hires, including coaches, will be announced when appropriate. " Enjoy!! #GiuseppeRossi #NYCosmos #CosmosCountry

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cosmos Country is back with another exclusive sit down! In this episode, Jerry sits down with James Izurieta! James is the leader of "The Green Legion Verde" and what are the Cosmos and it's comeback without it's fans! Jerry picks the brain of James as to what goes into being such a hardcore passionate fan. Whether it's singing the rally songs or just as simple as showing up in masses! Find out what it takes to become a member of these incredible fans of the Cosmos in 2026!! #TheGreenLegionVerde #CosmosCountry #USL

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cosmos Country Podcast has landed their first player on the new Cosmos team in the form of Anderson Holt! Jerry sits down with Anderson to talk about his journey to this point, the expectations of the squad and what to make of the new look Cosmos and the USL! Enjoy this in depth convo with one of your future favorite players on the team! #CosmosCountry #cosmos #AndersonHolt #CosmosCountryPodcast

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's a lot of buzz going around about "Cosmos Country" as we inch closer to the start of the USL Season! Jimmy & Jerry are back this week to start introducing the masses to the roster of this year's squad. Today, the duo focus in on Sebastian Guenzatti, Nestor Cabrera and Davey Mason! 3 Pivotal players to the success of the team in 2026! Kick back relax and enjoy and be sure to spread the word about the nations most recognized soccer club! #Cosmos #USL #CosmosCountry

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some HUGE news in the world of the USL as announced last week that the USL is adopting "Promotion Relegation" to it's league to add to it's luster headed into the new season. Jimmy & Jerry are back to break down what this means for The Cosmos and the entire landscape of USL Soccer. As reported on USLSoccer.com -

"The United Soccer League (USL) announced that a supermajority of club owners voted to implement a promotion and relegation system, marking a groundbreaking decision that will reshape the future of professional soccer in the United States.

The USL becomes the first professional sports league in the U.S. to adopt this global model, creating an interconnected three-tiered men’s professional soccer system, where teams earn promotion to a higher division or face relegation to a lower division based on their performance during the season. With this historic step, the USL aligns with the world’s top leagues—including the English Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga—where promotion and relegation raises the stakes of every match, drives fan engagement, and elevates the overall competition of the game.

"A new chapter in American soccer begins. The decision by our owners to approve and move forward with this bold direction is a testament to their commitment to the long-term growth of soccer in the United States,” said Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League. “This is a significant milestone for the USL and highlights our shared vision with our team ownership to build a league that not only provides top-tier competition but also champions community engagement. Now, just as it is in the global game, more communities in America can aspire to compete at the highest level of soccer. It’s time.”

The USL announced plans to launch a new men's Division One league called "USL Premier," a pivotal step in its vision to establish a fully integrated three-tier professional system. As defined by U.S. Soccer Federation sanctioning standards, Division One is the highest level of professional soccer in the United States. With the USL Championship (Division Two) and USL League One (Division Three) already providing a strong foundation for player development and competition, the addition of USL Premier completes the structure. All three leagues will be interconnected through a structured promotion and relegation system, where more matches matter, rewarding performance and unlocking new opportunities for clubs, players, and fans.

"Promotion and relegation transforms the competitive landscape of American soccer," said Paul McDonough, President and Chief Soccer Officer of the USL. “With the 2026 World Cup and other major international events approaching, we have a unique opportunity to build on that momentum and create a sustainable future for the sport in the U.S. Fans and stakeholders have been clear—they want something different. They’re drawn to the intensity of high-stakes competition, where more matches have real consequences—just like we see in European leagues. This shift challenges the status quo and brings a level of excitement and relevance that can elevate the game across the country.”

More details about the implementation and structure of promotion and relegation will be shared in the coming months."

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.