The United States men’s soccer team failed to reach the semifinals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup after losing to Belgium on Tuesday afternoon. Despite that disappointing loss, there’s no doubting the impact the USMNT had on the country over the last few weeks.
The U.S. team captivated the country, as thousands flocked to watch parties across America to take in the games. Whether it’s because those fans actually cared about soccer or just wanted an excuse to get out of work early and drink, Americans still came together.
For that, President Barack Obama is thankful, and he shared that sentiment with two members of the USA soccer team Wednesday. The commander in chief called forward Clint Dempsey and goalkeeper Tim Howard to congratulate them on their run to the knockout round despite drawing the “Group of Death” in pool play.
