NY Cosmos, Cuba national team set for soccer friendly in Havana

Walter Benitez, Head Coach of the Cuban national soccer team attends a news conference to announce a match against the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in New York, March 16, 2015. The Cosmos will play the Cuban national team in Havana, Cuba on June 2, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

At the press conference, a video was shown of the 1971 trip by US ping pong players to China that was credited in helping revive diplomatic ties between those countries.

Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese said the team "historically has been a soccer ambassador," adding that Cuba will be the 42nd country it has visited.

For the Cuban team, the match will also be a tuneup for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and the CONCACAF Gold Cup held in the US in July.

Sports exchanges between Cuba and the United States have increased in recent years, including several visits by US college baseball players.

Baseball is Cuba's most popular sport, but soccer has made strides in recent years with many young people sporting jerseys of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"You can watch a lot of soccer in Cuba, breathe a lot of soccer. This could help us find more talent," Benitez said.