Photo by M.V. Jantzen.

Shaq couldn’t get in to see the Commander-In-Chief on Monday, but FIFA President Sepp Blatter did. From the looks of things, Washington’s most famous resident turned on the charm, ably dribbling a soccer ball which Blatter brought as a gift and expressing interest in an invitation to attend next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

But Blatter wasn’t just here to exchange pleasantries. The FIFA boss came to talk about the prospects of another World Cup in the United States in either 2018 or 2022 — an event which D.C. would almost certainly be involved in, just as it was 15 years ago. Blatter couldn’t resist the negativity, though, noting that American soccer, in the wake of the last World Cup on these shores, did not have “the impact [FIFA] expected.” It’s been known for years that England will most likely host the Cup in 2018, with the U.S. a front-runner for 2022 — so why Blatter felt the need to diss our progress is unknown. After all, one wonders exactly what kind of “impact” Blatter was expecting in the mere 13 years since America has had a legitimate professional soccer league: Crowds over 70,000 for big friendlies? A national team on the rise? A ever-growing demand for the game on domestic television? The best female players in the world? A major expansion in our top division? Compelling stories? Yeah, shucks, it’s too bad we don’t have any of that going on in this country.

But enough about Sepp, who, despite his position as one of the most influential men in the game, seems resigned toward, rather than pleased about, the beautiful game’s inevitably increasing sphere of influence. This meeting did ping our curiosity about when the resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is going to make it out to a D.C. United match. Come on, Mr. President, we know your soccer-playing daughters would be into it — besides, couldn’t you write off games against teams from El Salvador as a diplomatic engagement?