Obama welcomes soccer champions Real Salt Lake to White House, looks forward to World Cup

Obama welcomes soccer champions Real Salt Lake

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is celebrating Major League Soccer champions Real (RAY’-ahl) Salt Lake and their unlikely road to the team’s first title.

Obama welcomed the Utah team to the White House Friday, applauding their success after qualifying for the playoffs on the last day of the season with a losing record. Obama says their victory proves that in soccer, there’s no such thing as a foregone conclusion.

Obama says Major League Soccer has played an important role in increasing the sport’s popularity in the U.S. The president says he’ll be cheering for the U.S. World Cup team when they compete in South Africa later this month.