White House hosts soccer clinic with local children ahead of MLS All-Star game and Women’s World Cup as US First Lady Jill Biden continues efforts to ‘highlight how sports unite us’
White House hosts soccer clinic with local kids ahead of MLS All-Star game and Women’s World Cup as US First Lady Jill Biden continues efforts to “emphasize how sport unites us”
- Among the guests was 32-year-old ex-Liverpool and Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke
- MLS will hold its All-Star Game at Washington’s Audi Field on Wednesday
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Kids wearing jerseys from their favorite MLS teams joined first lady Jill Biden and players from FC Cincinnati, DC United, Chicago Fire and other teams for a youth soccer clinic at White House South Lawn on a sweltering Monday afternoon.
They played pick-up games in the 92F (33.3 C) DC heat with MLS all-stars Christian Benteke, formerly of Crystal Palace and Liverpool; Lucho Acosta, USMNT defenseman Walker Zimmerman and Kei Kamara.
The White House billed the event as part of Biden’s ongoing effort to “highlight how sport unites us and supports and empowers young people.”
“Sport is the international language, from the thrill of the goal to the joy of victory,” Biden said at the event, standing on a podium next to MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Nevaeh Burroughs, a 16-year-old DC Parks and Recreation employee. .
Before introducing the first lady, Burroughs said football taught her the importance of “dedication, hard work and dedication.”
US President Joe Biden greeted MLS All-Star players on the South Lawn of the White House
Ex-Liverpool & Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke (far right) also greeted President Biden
Tim Parker, Kei Kamara, Walker Zimmerman and Luciano Acosta line up with DC youth players
President Joe Biden greets MLS Commissioner Don Garber at Jill Biden’s youth soccer clinic
US First Lady Jill Biden watches local children play on the South Lawn of the White House
“When we work as one team to score that point, or cheer on our team, sport unites us across backgrounds and boundaries. There are no strangers in the stands or on the field,” Biden said.
Benteke, Acosta, Kamara and Zimmerman stayed around to answer questions from DC youth players.
President Joe Biden came out late in the event to talk to the pros.
MLS will hold its All-Star Game at Washington’s Audi Field on Wednesday.
D.C. United manager Wayne Rooney did not attend the event at the White House on Monday.
President Biden spoke to several MLS players ahead of the All-Star game in DC on Wednesday
The clinic is part of the First Lady’s effort to highlight how sport inspires younger generations
U.S. First Lady Jill Biden watches during a scrimmage as she dons the league’s All-Star jersey
Jill Biden had a kick with kids ahead of the USWNT’s first World Cup game in four days
The Biden administration’s focus on football comes just in time for the start of the Women’s World Cup, which begins this week in Australia and New Zealand.
The American women’s national team will play against Vietnam on Friday in Auckland.
Second Mr. Douglas Emhoff will represent the White House from the stands, Jill Biden said.
Women’s team players visited the White House in March 2021 to discuss wage discrimination on “Equal Pay Day” – after the team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation over wage discrimination in 2019.
A landmark $24 million settlement was signed in 2022, as well as a commitment to equalize pay and bonuses across the men’s team.