Obama offers support for US World Cup bid

President Barack Obama said he hoped the international football association that organizes the World Cup would “give strong consideration” to the US bid to host it in 2018 or 2022.

The US president hosted Joseph Blatter, head of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), at the White House as the United States seeks to host football’s biggest competition.

Joseph Blatter told Obama that as FIFA chief he has to stay “neutral” on the issue of bids — there are 11 contenders so far for the 2018 host country — though he added that Obama appealed to him to “make another move toward United States soccer.”

According to Blatter, Obama said that being able to host the competition might boost the US profile of the sport, which is called soccer in the United States and is much less popular than American football.

Blatter, who brought Obama a gift of several footballs for his two daughters, who both play the sport at school, told reporters that he encouraged the US president to attend either the opening or closing match at next year’s World Cup, which is being held in South Africa.

The White House said Obama thanked Blatter for the invitation to attend and “hoped his schedule would allow him to do so.”

The FIFA head said Obama instructed his aides to see whether his schedule might accommodate a trip to the international competition.

The president’s press office said Obama “complimented FIFA on their efforts to incorporate community service, education and public health projects into their plans for staging the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.”

Blatter told reporters that he even played a little football with the president, who is better known for his basketball skills than his football talent.

But the FIFA chief said the US president managed to control the ball, kicking it twice with his feet and once with his head, adding that he was “impressed” by Obama’s skills.