"Greek American Atlas Astoria", formally "New York Greek American Atlas Astoria Soccer Club", was formed in 1946. The club was founded by
Greek-American Tom Laris and would go on to become one of the most successful and longest continually operating teams in American soccer history. The club has a long-standing rivalry with New York's
Cypriot team and fellow multiple National Cup champion, the
Pancyprian Freedoms.
National Cup success The Greek Americans have won America's nationwide domestic soccer tournament, the
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, formerly the
National Challenge Cup, four times in its history, from 1967 to 1969 and in 1974. The club is one of only two teams, alongside the
Seattle Sounders FC, to have won the annual tournament on three consecutive occasions. While the club had not qualified for the Open Cup since 2005, it returned to the tournament in
2012 but lost in the first round to
Reading United of the
USL's
Premier Development League (PDL), by a score of 2–1. The Greeks won re-entry to the Open Cup again in 2014 thanks to their USASA Amateur Cup regional championship, being
seeded in the second round. They won their first game against PDL opponents,
Ocean City Nor'easters, 2–0. before falling to
Richmond Kickers in the 3rd round. In 2014, after appearing in three consecutive
National Cup finals, Atlas would finally lift the trophy for the first time in their history after defeating Guadalajara FC 4–2 in the final. ==Honors==