U.S. President Barack Obama met the Nation's soccer players today at the White House, three days prior to the team’s departure to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

 

The President met with head coach Bob Bradley, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati and the 23 players who were named to the World Cup roster on Wednesday and wished them good luck in South Africa.

“We are privileged to represent the United States in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and that honor has been magnified many times over by the welcome we received today by President Obama, Vice President Biden and President Clinton at the White House,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati.

“Our country’s leaders clearly understand and appreciate what the World Cup means to all people of the world. The support they’ve shown, along with the American people, for our journey to this historic World Cup as well as our bid to host the tournament in 2018 or 2022 has been immense and inspirational.”
 

“It was a great honor for our team to visit the White House and meet President Obama, Vice President Biden and President Clinton,” said U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley. “We are proud to be representing our country in South Africa, and there is no greater way to reinforce that message than to hear it directly from the President of the United States.”

President Bill Clinton also attended the event as honorary chairman of the USA Bid Committee to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.