President Barack Obama has dispatched a pack of Sam Adams beer to the Belgian Embassy this past week to honor a wager he staked with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo during a game both nations at the recent World Cup in Brazil.
A report by SB Nation quotes the president's letter to PM Di Rupo, in which he characteristically articulates diplomatically that "The United States keeps its word, so I hope our friends at the Embassy here in Washington enjoy this case of Sam Adams."
He goes on rather lightheartedly to note that outside "the pitch," the US is grateful for her partnership with Belgium. President Obama then challenges PM Di Rupo to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It is however currently unclear if the US and Belgium will be paired against each other if both teams eventually qualify for the competition.
A few days before the game between the US and Belgium in June, PM Di Rupo reached out to the US leader on Twitter and bet on "some great Belgian beers" that the Belgian team will make it to the quarterfinals. The Red Devil did cross the quarter final line, but were sent packing by the Argentinean team.
The Stars and Stripes are one of the highest rated teams globally, but they have failed to progress beyond the preliminary stages. The last time the US soccer team reached the finals in the World Cup was during the 2002 Korea-Japan FIFA World Cup.
Although soccer has gained in popularity in the US over the past few years, it continues to lag behind other major sporting activities like basketball, football, baseball and hockey. Nonetheless, many experts say soccer betting has a profitable outlook in the country.
Meanwhile, Russia's right to host the highly anticipated competition currently stands on the balance in light of the Kremlin's interference in Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula. Reports indicate that the European Union is pondering over the prospects of boycotting the 2018 World Cup as part of its sanctions against Moscow.
The leadership of the world's football governing body has upheld Russia's rights to host the soccer tournament. FIFA President Sepp Blatter recently told the press that boycotting the competition will be futile.
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