President Barack Obama and his soccer connection

President Barack Obama is ending his tenure in the White House after eight years, and in that time he has shown to be a friend of The Beautiful Game. Obama has welcomed a number of MLS and women's soccer champions to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue while taking in some key World Cup and Champions League games from afar while on the job. As his presidency comes to an end, take a look at Obama's connection to soccer throughout the years.

SI Staff | Jan 19, 2017

President Barack Obama and his soccer connection /

President Barack Obama and his soccer connection

President Obama holds up an autographed Brazilian soccer jersey given to him by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, during a meeting at the G8 summit in Italy, on July 9, 2009.

President Obama cheers on his daughter Sasha's soccer team during a May 2009 game in Georgetown.

2009 WPS champion Sky Blue FC presents President Obama with his own jersey in a visit to the White House on July 1, 2010.

President Obama welcomes the MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew to the Rose Garden at the White House to celebrate their 2008 championship achievement on July 13, 2009.

President Obama receives a jersey from former Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts during the 2009 MLS Cup champions' visit to the White House on June 4, 2010.

First Lady Michelle Obama hosts a 2010 event with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and D.C. United in Washington, D.C., as part of her "Let's Move!" campaign to encourage children to remain active.

President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton pose with the U.S. men's national team in a send-off for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

President Obama offers final words of encouragement to U.S. manager Bob Bradley prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

President Obama watches the USA's knockout match against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on TV while at the G20 Summit in Toronto on June 26, 2010.

President Obama plays soccer with some children while visiting Ciudad de Dues Favela in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, March 20, 2011.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu kick around soccer balls as they participate in youth activities raising awareness for HIV prevention at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 23, 2011.

President Obama poses with the 2010 MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids in the East Room of the White House.

President Obama holds up his custom LA Galaxy jersey and poses with the 2011 MLS Cup-winning team, which featured manager Bruce Arena and stars (from left) Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, Mike Magee, AJ DeLaGarza and David Beckham.

President Obama cracks a joke about David Beckham's underwear that gets a laugh out of Mike Magee, Landon Donovan, Beckham and other members of the LA Galaxy during their visit to celebrate their 2011 MLS Cup title on May 15, 2012.

First Lady Michelle Obama kicks a ball as Peter Schmeichel and David Beckham look during a "Let's Move London" event at the American Ambassadors Residence in London on July 27, 2012.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron, wife of U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, visit with U.S. women's national team midfielder Lori Lindsey and defender Becky Sauerbrunn during a tour of an Olympics-themed event with area school children at American University on March 13, 2012.

President Obama poses with the LA Galaxy yet again, honoring the 2012 MLS Cup-winning team at the White House.

First Lady Michelle Obama introduces members of the 2011 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, including (L-R) Mike Magee, Sean Franklin, David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Todd Dunivant and A.J. DeLaGarza, during a question-and-answer session with school-age sports fans in the State Dining Room of the White House on May 15, 2012, as part of her "Let's Move!" initiative.

While at the G8 Summit at Camp David, President Obama watches the thrilling 2012 Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich with UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel.

President Obama plays with a "soccket" ball, a soccer ball that captures the energy during game play to charge LEDs and small batteries, alongside Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on July 2, 2013, during a demonstration at the Ubungo Plaza Symbion Power Plant in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

President Obama stops to speak with Tully Junior-Senior High School soccer team members in Tully, New York, on August 23, 2013. Obama was on a tour through New York and Pennsylvania to discuss his plan to make college more affordable for students and their families.

While meeting with the soccer teams at Tully Junior-Senior High School in Tully, New York, President Obama shows off his right-footed form.

President Obama shows off his new framed Sporting Kansas City jersey, which he received while welcoming the club on Oct. 1, 2014, to honor its 2013 MLS Cup championship.

Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes makes a presentation to President Obama on Oct. 1, 2014, in celebration of the club's 2013 MLS Cup championship.

President Obama has a message play on the videoboard at a USMNT-Panama World Cup qualifier in Seattle on June 11, 2013.

President Obama stops a ball that was kicked to him by humanoid robot ASIMO, (Advanced Step in Innovative MObility), as he tours the Miraikan Science Expo in Tokyo on April 24, 2014.

President Obama and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett watch the 2014 World Cup group stage match between the U.S. and Germany while en route to Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 26, 2014.

President Obama enters a watch party for the USA-Belgium 2014 World Cup match at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House on July 1, 2014 while chanting "I believe that we will win!"

President Obama watches the U.S. men's knockout game against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup with staffers at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House on July 1, 2014.

Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

President Obama welcomes the LA Galaxy back to the White House on Feb. 2, 2015, to honor their 2014 MLS Cup championship in a joint ceremony with the NHL champion Los Angeles Kings.

President Obama shows off his star-spangled U.S. women's national team jersey, which he received after welcoming the 2015 Women's World Cup champions to the White House in October 2015.

Published Jan 19, 2017

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