Obama welcomes MLS champs to White House, jokes most of his soccer watching is for daughters

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has welcomed soccer’s Columbus Crew to the White House to congratulate the team on its MLS championship.

Obama on Monday joined the team from Ohio in the Rose Garden to honor a turnaround from a losing season in 2007 to the best record in the league for 2008.

The president joked that he’s been watching plenty of soccer these days — for his daughters’ games. He says he’s learned two main rules for youth soccer: no matter the position, players should run toward the ball all at once; and snacks at halftime must never be forgotten.

Obama says soccer’s popularity is on the rise in the United States and that the national team has been playing with distinction.