It potentially hands Obama a great opportunity to network with the 24 members of FIFA's ruling Executive Committee who will make the decision on which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

 

Obama, whose late father was Kenyan, has indicated he will attend the event on June 11 next year when the first World Cup to be staged on African soil begins, Blatter said.

 

Blatter said: "The World Cup in Africa will go well, there is no doubt.

 

"And the man who said, 'Yes we can do it,' will be there.

 

"President Obama has accepted an invitation to the opening ceremony.

 

"Of course the schedule of heads of state can change, but he has said he will be there if he can.

 

"Obama has said: 'If I can, I will come.'"

 

Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama has agreed to meet with Blatter about the World Cup but said he had yet to confirm his schedule for next year.

 

Gibbs said: "We have not yet altogether made plans."

 

Obama has already written a personal letter supporting the US bid to host the World Cup for the first time since 1994.

 

They are one of 11 candidates which also include Australia, England, Indonesia Japan, Mexico and Russia plus joint proposals from Holland and Belgium and Spain and Portugal, who are all bidding for 2018 and 2022.

 

Qatar and South Korea are also bidding but only for the 2022 tournament.

 

FIFA is due to make a decision in December 2010.