The US President met Blatter at the White House where he laid out the case for the World Cup to return there for the first time since 1994.

 

 

Blatter said: "I have to be neutral in all these matters."

 

Blatter said he and the President also talked about the US national team's near-upset of might Brazil last month, as well as yesterday's embarrassing 5-0 loss to Mexico.

 

They also discussed the prospect of education programmes in connection with the game that every other country in the world calls football.

 

Blatter said: "Football is a game played everywhere."

 

Blatter invited Obama to attend next year's World Cup in South Africa and he promised he would make the trip if his agenda allowed it.

 

FIFA officials also presented Obama with soccer balls for his daughters.

 

The President proceeded to bounce one of them off his foot and even off his head, according to Blatter.

 

Blatter did not discuss the U.S. chances to land another World Cup, but did point out that the last two tournaments were in Asia and Europe; the next two are in Africa and South America.

 

He said: "North America would be a normal going around."

 

Blatter also said the 1994 World Cup organisation in the United States left a "good legacy".

 

The US is one of nine candidates to host the 2018 World Cup, with the bookmakers installing England as the favourites.

 

The other bidders are Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia plus joint applications from Holland and Belgium and Spain and Portugal.

 

Qatar and South Korea are bidding for just the 2022 tournament.