New York Cosmos Select New Jersey's Morris Elite Soccer Club as Official Affiliate for Youth Development
USL1 New York Cosmos

New York Cosmos Select New Jersey's Morris Elite Soccer Club as Official Affiliate for Youth Development

Published on August 22, 2025 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
New York Cosmos News Release


PATERSON, NJ - The New York Cosmos' commitment to scouting, developing and promoting local talent will be anchored by a multi-year partnership with Morris Elite Soccer Club of Madison, NJ. Under terms of the agreement, Morris Elite will be the Official Affiliate of the New York Cosmos, serving as an identifier and incubator of potential prospects for the professional club's USL League One team.

The Cosmos will return to competition in spring 2026, with home matches taking place at renovated Hinchliffe Stadium in downtown Paterson, NJ. Signing and showcasing players with regional ties will be a hallmark of the Cosmos' new era, and a productive alliance with Morris Elite will be a key component of that mission.

"This is an important part of our foundation and long-term planning," Cosmos CEO Erik Stover said. "The immediate focus for our first team is identifying top quality players from New Jersey. The relationship with Morris Elite allows us to have an eye toward future development."

The partnership's focus will be Morris Elite's boys USL Academy side. From 2026, that team will wear both the Cosmos and Morris Elite logos on its match kit.

The USL Academy League's Boys Division is a year-round, nationwide competition currently comprising 95 teams arranged in 14 regional groups (Morris Elite plays in the Mid Atlantic alongside seven clubs from New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania). USL Academy teams are U-20 but must include a minimum number of U-17 athletes. In addition, up to three men over the age of 19 can participate in a given Academy match, while Academy players are permitted to train and potentially play for the affiliated professional team.

"It's for serious players who aspire to play at the next level," said Morris Elite founder and President Vincenzo Bernardo, who holds a minority stake in the Cosmos and serves on the club's Soccer Committee. "We'll be wearing the Cosmos badge, and it will be an exclusive part of our player pathway. It's a true pathway to pro from the grassroots, which we need more of in New Jersey."

Bernardo grew up playing youth soccer in North Jersey. He attended St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, NJ, appeared for the U.S. U-17 and U-20 national teams and moved to Italy at 16 to play for Napoli's academy and reserve squads. Bernardo's professional career included stops in Austria, Guatemala and the USA. After retiring in 2016, he returned to New Jersey and launched Morris Elite.

Just nine years later, the club serves nearly 1,000 players from Morris County and the surrounding region. Its boys and girls teams compete in the USL Academy and USL Youth setups, as well as in Elite Academy League, U.S. Club Soccer's National Premier League, Elite Development Program and U.S. Youth Soccer National League competitions. Morris Elite's USL League Two (men's) and USL W League (women's) pre-professional teams sit atop its full-service pyramid.

"This was the missing piece. We didn't have access to a pro team. It's a dream come true to be a part of this and to be a part of the Cosmos. We're really excited and grateful for the opportunity," Bernardo said.

The Cosmos-Morris Elite partnership also will include interactions between the professional team and the youth club, such as open training sessions, allowing for closer technical and cultural integration.

"Morris Elite is our Official Affiliate, but we're also planning to announce numerous partnerships with other clubs and academies as part of our player development plans," Stover added.

The Cosmos intend to launch a women's professional team in the coming years, while expanding their developmental footprint throughout New Jersey and the Tri-State area with additional Club Partner agreements.

For information on the New York Cosmos, Hinchliffe Stadium and USL League One, please visit https://www.nycosmos.com/.

For Cosmos membership deposits and ticket information, please see https://tickets.thecosmos.us/event/member-deposits-05ef99.

For more on Morris Elite, please see https://morriselitesoccer.com/.

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