Soccer: FIFA president to personally invite Obama to World Cup
By BARRY WILNER
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK — FIFA president Sepp Blatter plans to extend a personal invitation to President Barack Obama to attend the 2010 World Cup when the two meet at the White House on Monday.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Blatter said the invitation has been extended and that he will “confirm it” at the meeting.
“I know there are people around the president who are football fans, and that they will make everything possible in his agenda that the president be at the opening of the World Cup or the final,” Blatter said.
Blatter also plans to discuss the state of U.S. Soccer with the president, including the United States’ bids to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
The 2010 World Cup is in South Africa.