U.S. President Barack Obama has called on FIFA, the governing body of world football, to give "strong consideration" to an American city to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2020.
The President talked with FIFA chief Sepp Blatter at a meeting in the White House Monday and declared his belief that hosting the event can help to promote the profile of soccer in the U.S.
Blatter said at a press conference that he has a duty to be impartial to all 11 contested the 2018's case - but confirmed that Obama had appealed to him to "make a new move against the U.S. soccer."
The last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994 - when, despite the limited appeal of football in the country, the tournament was the best attended in history.
Blatter President several football as gifts, and extended an invitation to the President, who has Kenyan roots, for the 2010 event in South Africa - for the first time in the tournament will be held on the African continent.
Again, the White House confirmed that Obama "hoped he would allow him to complete the move."
President's press office was saying that Obama had "praised FIFA for their efforts to incorporate community service, education and public health projects in their plans for the staging of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."
Blatt, who played in nearly 20 years in his home nation, Switzerland, told a press conference that he was "impressed" by Obama when the two skills kicked a ball between each other.
Source: CNN.com