NEW YORK (AP) -- The U.S. Soccer Federation thinks the election of President Barack Obama will help persuade FIFA to award the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to the United States.

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati praises Obama for "reaching out to the world," and says given that, efforts to bring the World Cup to the United States "would be viewed in a very positive way."

FIFA received 11 preliminary bids for both the tournaments today, including applications form the United States, England and Russia.

Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and Qatar all submitted the paperwork on time. Netherlands-Belgium and Spain-Portugal each made joint offers, although FIFA president Sepp Blatter has expressed a preference for single-nation bids.

Next year's World Cup will be in South Africa and the 2014 tournament will be staged by Brazil.

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