The United States football team was given the presidential seal of approval on Thursday before heading to South Africa for the World Cup.

The squad met President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the White House, posing for photographs and swapping jokes about the team's clothing.

"I just want to say how incredibly proud we are of the team. Everybody is going to be rooting for you," Obama said.

"Although sometimes we don't remember here in the United States, this is going to be the biggest world (stage) and you're going to be representing all of us. We are incredibly proud of what you've done already."

Clinton, recently appointed to the US bid team hoping to secure hosting rights to the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, joined the irreverent mood with a wisecrack about the player's fashion sense.

"I want to be on this team just for the shoes," he said. "This is the only team that I've ever seen that had these cool shoes."