Obama welcomes Galaxy to White House

VISITOR PASS

President Obama welcomed the MLS champs at the White House. View photos here.

President Barack Obama welcomed David Beckham and his LA Galaxy teammates to the White House Tuesday to honor the MLS Cup Champions.

The president proclaimed the Galaxy the "Miami Heat of soccer," praising the team's superstar trio of Beckham, Irish forward Robbie Keane and America's own Landon Donovan.

Obama congratulated the 37-year-old Beckham for defying age and injury to have one of his most successful seasons in MLS.

"A rare man that can do all that and have his own line of underwear," the president quipped.

Donovan and Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena presented Obama with a soccer ball and a Galaxy jersey with the president's name emblazoned on the back.

The team was scheduled to join First Lady Michelle Obama and young students from around the country to take part in a soccer clinic on the South Lawn following the ceremony.

The Galaxy finished the 2011 regular season with a league-high 67 points, with 19 victories and only five losses in 34 games. The club marched through the playoffs on the back of Donvovan, who scored three postseason goals, including the lone goal in the Galaxy's 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in the championship game.