Clinton & Mandela

Posted on June 25, 2010

South Africa has been a model host for the World Cup, and the USA Bid Committee is taking note.

President Clinton — along with the other top ambassadors of US soccer — met with former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Thursday to praise South Africa’s performance as a World Cup host.

President Clinton was in Pretoria for Team USA's dramatic victory over Algeria, which he was able to watch with FIFA President Sepp Blatter, and is rearranging his schedule to watch the US take on Ghana on Saturday. The former President cheered so hard for the US he lost his voice.

"I had to come home and drink hot tea with honey for an hour. I was very diplomatic until we scored, and then I was up there screaming and yelling with everybody."

Photo credit: Adam Jacobs, ISIphotos.com

Pictured from left to right behind Nelson Mandela:
Sunil Gulati - USA Bid Committee Chairman and U.S. Soccer President, President Clinton - Honorary Chairman of the USA Bid Committee, Don Garber - Commissioner of MLS, Carlos Cordeiro - Vice Chairman of the USA Bid Committee, and Dan Flynn - USSF CEO and Secretary General