[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] How big is the World Cup in political terms? On Thursday, former President Bill Clinton, in his new role as the honorary chairman of the USA's 2018/22 World Cup bid committee, and the U.S. national team will head to the White House, where Bob Bradley's boys will get a send-off from President Barack Obama.

Clinton is expected to attend several matches in South Africa. Vice president Joseph Biden is expected to attend the USA-England opener June 12 in Rustenburg.

Obama had said he might attend if the Americans advance far in the tournament.

On Tuesday, Clinton hosted 15 members of the USA Bid Committee board at the New York City office of the William J. Clinton Foundation in Harlem.

'HUMBLED' “To assemble such an impressive array of leaders committed to the ideals of FIFA and the World Cup tells the United States and the global soccer community that our effort is a sincere and worthy one,” said Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer.  “President Clinton is already making a significant impact on behalf of our bid, and we are humbled and impressed by the support our Board of Directors is pledging to help us bring the FIFA World Cup back to the United States in 2018 or 2022.”