Bidens celebrate World Cup victory

Vice President Biden and his family rejoiced in the United States’ victory at the Women’s World Cup in Vancouver on Sunday.

Biden was into the action as the U.S. cruised to a 5-2 victory over Japan, defying his prediction of a one-goal win. He sat next to his grandson, Hunter, and gave a rundown as the game headed to a close.

“Ten minutes, Hunt. Ten minutes,” he said.

{mosads}When the game entered extra time, Biden cheered, “One more goal! One more goal!”

Sitting near U.S. soccer icon Mia Hamm, Biden spoke about how the Americans’ first World Cup victory since 1999 will help the women’s game grow.

But as the final seconds ticked off the clock, Biden’s thoughts were also on his late son, Beau. The vice president said he did not play soccer growing up but recalled fond memories of his sons playing the game.

“I played football,” he told a pool reporter. “My boys were 5 and 6, and started in a county league. And it went from 50 kids to 600 in three years. I don’t even think the high school that I went to had a soccer team.”

“Beau played and was captain of the soccer team. Hunt played football,” Biden added. “And I never played soccer. But I watched all Beau’s games.”

Biden also noted his granddaughter, Maisy, is an avid soccer player. She plays on the same team as Sasha Obama, who was also on hand in Vancouver to watch the game with the Bidens.

The vice president was a member of the U.S. delegation to the game, led by his wife, Jill Biden. Before the game, the vice president met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who offered condolences to his family following Beau’s death.

As the U.S. team celebrated on the field, Biden, Hamm, and former U.S. men’s star Cobi Jones walked down to the field to join in the festivities. He hugged U.S. coach Jill Ellis and took photos with some of the players.