Harlem, NY – President Bill Clinton was presented as the honorary Chairman of the USA bid committee to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
The ceremony took place on the brand new FieldTurf soccer field at the home of the F.C. Harlem youth soccer club.
Many major figures from the political and soccer world were present for the event, from Congressman Charles Rangel to U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, to MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
President Clinton was in office when the World Cup was first played on U.S. soil in 1994, and explained the tremendous impact the sport has on people’s lives within the country and around the world.
Prior to the press conference, three New York Red Bulls players, Juan Pablo Ángel, Chris Albright and Seth Stammler, took part in a soccer clinic on the new field, with the children who were attending.
The FieldTurf field was completed with the proceeds from MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the U.S. Soccer Foundation in a grant program partnership formed by the three parties.
The ribbon-cutting event for this field took place in early April and hosted numerous special guests, including international soccer star Edgar Davids who also provided a youth clinic on the field.
