New York Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso has offered to inject $500 million into the North American Soccer League if he receives certain assurances from the United States Soccer Federation, according to correspondence supplied to Sports Illustrated and The Guardian.
Commisso offered to invest in the troubled league, including $250 million of his own money, in fiery letters sent to new U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro, as well as the presidents of FIFA and CONCACAF and U.S. senators.
The investment would provide funds for updating stadiums and allow 10 teams to play as soon as next year. In exchange, Commisso asks for 10 years to come into compliance with U.S. Soccer's division regulations.
U.S. Soccer revoked the NASL's Division 2 status last year when the league failed to meet standards for that tier, leading a number of clubs to end their affiliation. As a result, the NASL in February announced it was cancelling the 2018 season, after Commisso's legal attempt to reinstate its Division 2 status failed.
Commisso also wants U.S. Soccer to end its relationship with Soccer United Marketing, which is controlled by the owners of Major League Soccer. SUM has marketing and television contracts with U.S. Soccer until 2022, but Commisso said he would happily improve their existing deals to remove his concerns over what he perceives as the federations' favoritism toward MLS.
Cordeiro replied that he would not be able to meet with Commisso until after the 2026 World Cup bidding process is completed in June, which further frustrated the Cosmos owner.