Obama hints that he will attend World Cup 2010

October 2nd, 2009 43 activists detained sending message to ObamaCOPENHAGEN — Police say they have detained 43 people in the Danish capital for public disturbance, some trying to hang a banner on a building along the route that President Barack Obama took to attend an IOC meeting. Police spokesman Henrik Suhr says the others were detained elsewhere across Copenhagen on Friday for similar offenses close to the routes that Obama would take to visit Danish officials after addressing International Olympic Committee members, who will decide where the 2016 Games will be held.

September 21st, 2009 ZURICH - World soccer governing body FIFA Monday said security in South Africa, the host of next year's World Cup, was as good as anywhere in the world and asked everyone to trust Africans and South Africa. "Please support us by saying let's go there, and trust Africans, trust South Africa.

September 20th, 2009 Obama hints at Cards-Yankees postseason matchupWASHINGTON — So who will be in the World Series, Mr. President? President Barack Obama is such a big Chicago White Sox fan that he's not making any predictions as long as his beloved home team has a mathematical shot at the playoffs.

September 16th, 2009 Obama drums up support for Chicago Olympic bidWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama staged a homecoming-style Olympic rally at the White House Wednesday, saying the whole country is rooting for his hometown of Chicago in its efforts to host the 2016 Summer Games. "Chicago is ready.

August 28th, 2009 Report: SKorea seeks joint fan squad with NKoreaSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is backing the creation of a joint fan group to support its team and North Korea at next year's World Cup. Kim Choong-whan, a ruling party lawmaker leading a bipartisan delegation on a South Africa trip, said Thursday that lawmakers will pass a resolution on the formation of a joint fan group next month, according to Yonhap news agency.

July 27th, 2009 Obama supports US World Cup effortWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday lobbied the head of international soccer on the United States' bid to host the World Cup and said he hoped to attend the upcoming contest in South Africa. Obama met with FIFA president Sepp Blatter at the White House to discuss the United States' prospects to attract the tournament in 2018 or 2022.

July 10th, 2009 WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: Obama staffers meet popeVATICAN CITY — If one career highlight was getting Barack Obama elected president, another might be meeting the pope. Several senior White House staffers had the honor Friday, after President Barack Obama's private audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

June 23rd, 2009 BLOEMFONTEIN - On the day after the semi-final line-up was dramatically set at the Confederations Cup, South Africa took a deep breath and FIFA President Sepp Blatter revealed that US President Barack Obama may attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup next year. According to reports, Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, told Blatter that he would be there if his schedule at the time allowed it.

June 22nd, 2009 Blatter invites Obama to World Cup in South AfricaJOHANNESBURG — FIFA president Sepp Blatter has invited President Barack Obama to next year's World Cup in South Africa. Blatter says: "Obama has said: 'If I can, I will come.'" The United States has reached the semifinals of the Confederations Cup and will face Spain on Wednesday at Bloemfontein.

June 22nd, 2009 White House: Obama not committed to World CupWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama has not made a decision yet on whether to attend next year's World Cup soccer championship in South Africa. Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked about the matter on Monday after at least one published report said Obama had accepted an invitation.

June 18th, 2009 Pakistan set South Africa 150-RUN TARGET NOTTINGHAM - Pakistan scored 149 for four against South Africa in the first semi-final of the World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge here Thursday. Brief score: Pakistan 149/4 in 20 overs (Shahid Afridi 51, Shoaib Malik 34; Wayne Parnell 1-26)

June 18th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - Pakistan shocked South Africa by seven runs to storm into the final of the World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge here. Brief scores: Pakistan 149/4 in 20 overs (Shahid Afridi 51, Shoaib Malik 34; Wayne Parnell 1-26) beat South Africa 142/5 in 20 overs (Jacques Kallis 64, Jean Paul Duminy 44 not out, Shahid Afridi 2-16).

June 18th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - Pakistan captain Younis Khan won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in the first semifinal of the World Twenty20 championship at Trent Bridge here Thursday.

June 17th, 2009 SA union: Low soccer turnout an embarrassmentJOHANNESBURG — Low attendance at Confederations Cup matches are an embarrassment to South Africa, the country's trade union confederation said Wednesday. Host South Africa almost filled the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg for Sunday's opening game of the two-week tournament, but the world's best teams — including Brazil, Spain and Italy — have played to less than full grounds, with some half-full.

June 16th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - South Africa defeated India by 12 runs in the last Super Eight Group E match of the World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge here. Brief Scores: South Africa 130/5 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 63, Graeme Smith 26; Ravindra Jadeja 1-9) beat India 118/8 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 29, Yuvraj Singh 25; Johan Botha 3-16).