蜜芽传媒

More than four decades ago, "ping pong diplomacy" paved the way for the rapprochement between the US and China. Now, a friendly football fixture is heralding the new era in relations between the old Cold War foes of Cuba and America. The New York Cosmos have won approval to play the Cuban national soccer team, becoming the first professional US soccer club to play on the island in 37 years. The announcement comes after last December's rapprochement between Cuba and the United States.

Shep Messing is a former goalkeeper in the North American Soccer League's (NASL) Golden Era.

(Photo: Shep Messing. Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images for New York Red Bulls)