Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League Announces Launch of Men’s Team Debuting in CSL
The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), the oldest youth soccer league in the United States, is proud to announce the formation of its first-ever men’s team, The New York Cosmopolitans, set to debut in the Second Division of the historic Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL) in Fall 2025.
This initiative answers a major need identified in CJSL’s recent landmark survey of over 100 New York City clubs. In 2024, the CJSL conducted a citywide survey of coaches and administrators representing more than 25,000 youth players. A striking finding emerged: nearly 70% of youth players in New York City do not plan to play college soccer. While CJSL already offers strong college and professional pathway programming, this new men’s team will serve the growing population of players who want to continue playing competitively beyond youth soccer without going the collegiate route.
“The launch of The New York Cosmopolitans is a direct response to what we’ve heard from the community,” said Paul Kontonis, President of the CJSL. “Our data shows that a majority of the youth players in New York City don’t plan to play soccer in college. That’s a massive gap in the player pathway, and we’re stepping in to fill it. This team gives those players a place to continue their development, stay connected to the game they love, and remain part of the soccer community. We are, and always have been, more than a league. We are a lifelong home for soccer in New York City.”
“Bringing the men’s and youth programs together under one banner reaffirms our purpose and history,” said Mike Fitzgerald, President of the CSL. “This is the evolution of the original vision behind the CJSL and CSL. We are excited to unite the past, present, and future of New York City soccer in one community.”
The New York Cosmopolitans will be composed of players ages 18 and up, with priority given to CJSL alumni. All players who have played a minimum of three years in the CJSL will be eligible to register for free. Non-CJSL players may register for a fee of $250 for the combined Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 CSL seasons.
The team’s official shield will be the current CJSL logo, reinforcing the direct connection between the league’s historic foundation and its future in adult amateur competition.
Tryouts will take place in early August 2025, with all alumni players invited to attend. In an unprecedented effort to connect talent across leagues, clubs from the CSL, APSL, NPSL, and USL systems will be invited to attend the trials to scout players for potential upward movement. The CJSL is committed to helping players rise through the ranks by creating visibility and access to higher-level clubs and opportunities.
The initiative is supported by the New York Pancyprian Freedoms, 2024 National Amateur Cup Champions, who are folding their reserve program into the CJSL men’s team to build a stronger player pipeline. The CJSL will soon announce coaching and back-office staff, as well as home field, training schedules, and the official kit reveal.
The New York Cosmopolitans will also feature mentor players, experienced senior-level athletes who will help guide and elevate the younger players as they adapt to the demands of men’s competition. Off the field, players will gain access to real-world professional development through CJSL programs focused on media, operations, internships, and career growth.
The debut of The New York Cosmopolitans strengthens CJSL’s role as the most complete soccer ecosystem in New York City, offering a full-circle development model from grassroots to professional play and beyond.
Additional Notes:
Why The New York Cosmopolitans? The name is a timeless tribute to the league’s shared Cosmopolitan identity, evoking the legacy of classic clubs while honoring nearly a century of New York soccer history.
“Forged in the Five” represents players shaped by the five boroughs of New York City, hardened through competition in the most diverse and demanding soccer environment in the country.
This marks a powerful full-circle moment for the CJSL, which was founded in 1933 as the youth division of the original Cosmopolitan Soccer League—then known as the German American Soccer League, founded in 1923.
In addition to athletic opportunities, players selected for The New York Cosmopolitans will gain access to real-world work experience through CJSL partnerships and programs, including internships, media and operations training, and professional networking, reinforcing CJSL’s commitment to holistic player development on and off the pitch.
