Dubai’s Emirates in sponsorship deal with U.S. soccer team Cosmos

With Pele looking on, the revived New York Cosmos signed a shirt sponsorship contract with Emirates Airline as the team prepares to play in the second-tier North American Soccer League this summer.

The 72-year-old Brazilian great, the team’s honorary president, attended a news conference in Manhattan.

Featuring stars such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia, the Cosmos played in the old NASL from 1971-84 and folded in 1985.

The relaunched team is run by CEO Seamus O’Brien. It starts play at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead on Long Island on Aug. 3 against Fort Lauderdale. The Cosmos hope to build a $400 million, 25,000-seat stadium at Belmont Park racetrack.

Emirates Air also is the shirt sponsor of Arsenal, AC Milan, Hamburg, Paris Saint-Germain and, starting next season, Real Madrid.