Obama says FIFA wrong to deny US bid for World Cup

Washington: President Barack Obama says FIFA made the "wrong decision" in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar over the United States.

The US 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 US bid had 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 United States. Obama spoke to reporters briefly as he headed to a meeting with newly elected governors. PTI