WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says FIFA made the "wrong decision" in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar over the United States.
The U.S. Soccer Federation spent millions of dollars on its bid. Former President Bill Clinton was highly involved in the process and participated in the closing presentation. Those pushing the U.S. bid hoped that bringing the World Cup back to America for the first time since 1994 would boost the slow but steady growth of soccer in the U.S.
Obama spoke to reporters briefly as he headed to a meeting with newly-elected governors at the Blair House.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.