Obama would attend USA final

USA President Barack Obama would head to South Africa to cheer for the US football team if they reach the FIFA World Cup™ final later this year, the South African foreign minister said Wednesday.

"I remember him saying that he would maybe consider coming if the American team goes to the quarter-finals, might come if they reach the semi-finals, and will come to the finals," said Maite Nkoana-Mashabane after a meeting with her US counterpart, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Obama made his promise at a bilateral meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma on Sunday on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington. "I'm a witness," Clinton confirmed with a laugh.

Nkoana-Mashabane said she hoped for a final between the US team and the South African national team, Bafana Bafana.

The US is in Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria. The 2010 tournament will mark the country's ninth run at the FIFA World Cup. It's best showing was third place at the inaugural finals in 1930.