New York, NY —

Former President Bill Clinton visited members of a youth soccer clinic in Harlem Monday to spark interest in bringing the World Cup here. Clinton is the honorary chairman of the U.S. committee bidding for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. He says soccer has caught on in America for many reasons.

"It's less expensive than football, it can encompass more people, and you can see here it's open to men and women, boys and girls," Clinton said.

Whitney Gibson, 10, says soccer is a great opportunity for girls to show how athletic they are. "I get to kick the ball in the net and then I get to score points," she says. "I think girls' soccer is very good and women athletes in general is good because a lot of boys say that women can't do soccer and stuff like that."

New York is one of 18 U.S. cities that the bid committee has put forward as possible hosts of the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. The winners will be announced in December.