Meeting the Presidents

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton welcomed the U.S. men's national team to the White House on Thursday morning, with Obama delivering a message the coaches, players and staff won't soon forget.

Obama wished members of the team on what they've already achieved. "We're going to be proud of what you do in South Africa," he said. "And you will have somebody in the Oval Office watching ESPN to make sure things are going OK." Obama said Biden would support the team in person.

Clinton, who is also planning to attend, is the honorary chairman of the USA Bid Committee seeking to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Gotta love Billy's ability to create a job that entails free world cup trips through at least 2022. Love his ingenuity. I am certain he will need a personal assistant and i will be appyling for the position upon my return.

A great qoute from Clinton: "In my travels around the world - from the dirt fields of Lusaka, Zambia, to playgrounds in schools across America - I've seen the transformative power soccer has to bring people together and transform lives on and off the field," President Clinton said. "I continue to be impressed with FIFA's work to promote the game as an agent for positive social change, and I'm proud to represent the United States in our bid to bring the World Cup tournament back to American soil, allowing us to inspire action and cooperation on an even greater scale."

For those interested below is the 23 man roster:

Forwards
• Jozy Altidore, Villareal (Spain) (pictured) • Edson Buddle, Los Angeles Galaxy• Robbie Findley, Real Salt Lake• Herculez Gomez, Pachuca (Mexico)

Midfielders• DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers (Scotland)• Michael Bradley, Moenchengladbach (Germany)• Ricardo Clark, Frankfurt (Germany)• Clint Dempsey, Fulham (England)• Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy• Maurice Edu, Rangers (Scotland)• Benny Feilhaber, Aarhus (Denmark)• Stuart Holden, Bolton (England)• Jose Torres, Pachuca (Mexico)

Defenders• Carlos Bocanegra, Rennes (France) (captain)• Jonathan Bornstein, Chivas USA• Steve Cherundolo, Hannover (Germany)• Jay DeMerit, Watford (England)• Clarence Goodson, IK Start (Norway)• Oguchi Onyewu, AC Milan (Italy)• Jonathan Spector, West Ham (England)

Goaltenders• Brad Guzan, Aston Villa (England)• Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton (England)• Tim Howard, Everton (England)