President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed members of a New York diaspora football team to the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, praising the club’s role in connecting second and third generation Greek Cypriots with their homeland.

The president received young players from New York Pancyprian-Freedoms and their escorts on 18 February 2026.

“It is always with great joy, whatever my schedule, my answer is positive, to meet especially with the children of Pancyprian,” Christodoulides said.

The president, who studied in America, said he knows first-hand the important work Pancyprian has done for many years.

He highlighted two aspects of the club’s work. “After so many years and with Pancyprian’s successes, Pancyprian makes Cyprus known in America. You do important work. I’m happy for the successes, I follow your results, so we are proud of all of you.”

He said the second point concerned the children participating in Pancyprian, most of them second and third generation diaspora. “The best connection with Cyprus, with Greece is through Pancyprian, through football academies. And I would sincerely like to congratulate you for this work.”

The president said he hoped the young players would enjoy their stay in Cyprus, noting that for some it was their first visit to the island.

“As Government we will continue, as happens over time, to support Pancyprian, because, beyond the important work done in the sports sector in football, it is a way to bring the second, third generation [of diaspora] close to Cyprus,” he said.

Founded in 1974 by Cypriot immigrants, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an amateur soccer team based in Astoria.

The team’s squad and coaching staff have been historically staffed by Cypriot, Greek and US-born players.

Some of the most famous members of the team are former Omonoia defender Evagoras Christofi, the forward Sinisa Gogic, as well as AEK Athens and Greece’s football legend Mimis Papaioannou.

One of the greatest moments in the team’s history came in 1984, when the Freedoms reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, beating Mexican powerhouse Puebla on penalties, and overcoming Honduran champions Vida, before they and their semi-final opponents CD Guadalajara were disqualified after failing to agree on the dates of the matches.