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Obama Backs US Bid to Host World Cup

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 14, 2009 12:17 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama is jumping into a new kind of global politics. An ardent advocate of Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid, Obama is now pushing hard to bring the World Cup to America in 2018 or 2022, the New York Times reports. Obama recently wrote personally to the president of soccer’s governing body, urging it to pick the US when it gathers in December 2010.

“As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together,” he wrote. Now the US is hoping to similarly bring the world together “in celebration of our common hopes and dreams.” Next year’s World Cup will be held in South Africa, and the 2014 tournament will be in Brazil, so FIFA is believed to be looking for a wealthy, comfortable nation for 2018.

In this file photo, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, then-Sen. Barack Obama, and still-Chicago mayor Richard Daley, watch a video celebrating Chicago's selection as a potential Olympic city. (AP Photo)

US forward Jozy Altidore dribbles the ball against Trinidad and Tobago in the first half of a World Cup qualifying soccer match, April 1, 2009. (AP Photo)

Barack Obama plays with a ball while waiting to watch his daughter Malia's soccer game at a park in Chicago on Tuesday, July 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Barack Obama sits on a camping chair as he waits to watch his daughter Malia's soccer game in Chicago, July 1, 2008. (AP Photo)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • World Cup • soccer • FIFA • President Obama

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Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

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