The World Cup's toughest security headache may be a surprise visit by President Barack Obama, South Africa's police chief said Friday, joking that he secretly hoped the US side would bow out early。

　　"One challenge... is the American President who is coming, not coming, coming, not coming," national police commissioner Bheki Cele told parliament in a briefing on security for the June 11-July 11 tournament。

　　"Our famous prayer is that they don't make the second round," he told the parliamentary police committee. "They get eliminated and they go home because we are told that if they go to the second or third stage, the American president might come."

　　The United States is one of 31 visitor nations competing for the World Cup。

　　Forty-three heads of state have provisionally confirmed their attendance at the tournament, the first on African soil, but Cele said the presence of the US leader would double security requirements for the event。

　　"That 43 will be equal to this one operation," he quipped。

　　Cele was briefing lawmakers on South Africa's security plan for the cup, which has met with approval from global police agency Interpol and security authorities of the 31 visitor teams。

　　Speaking in Washington last month, South Africa's foreign minister said Obama had indicated to President Jacob Zuma that he would attend the tournament if the United States reached the final。

　　"I remember him saying that he would maybe consider coming if the American team goes to the quarter-finals, might come if they reach the semi-finals, and will come to the finals," said Maite Nkoana-Mashabane。

　　The United States is in Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria. The 2010 tournament will mark the country's ninth run at the World Cup. Its best ever showing in the tournament was third in 1930.

　　南非警察部门负责人于上周五表示，世界杯最艰巨的安保任务可能会是美国总统贝拉克·奥巴马的突然来访，他开玩笑说自己暗暗希望美国队能早早淘汰。

　　世界杯足球赛将于6月11日至7月11日在南非举行。该国警察总长贝奇•赛勒在向国会报告世界杯安保工作情况时说：“一个最大的问题是……美国总统是来还是不来？”

　　他向国会警务委员会报告说：“我们都在祈祷美国队在首轮被淘汰。他们被淘汰了，就能早点回国。因为我们得知如果美国队打进第二轮或第三轮，美国总统可能就会来。”

　　本届世界杯将有包括美国在内的31支客场队参赛。

　　目前，已有43位国家首脑暂定将出席首次在非洲举行的世界杯赛，但赛勒说美国领导人的到访会大大增加赛事安保的负担。

　　他打趣说：“他一个人相当于那43个人。”

　　赛勒向立法者简要汇报了南非世界杯的安保计划。该计划已得到国际刑警组织和31个参赛队安全机构的批准。

　　南非外交部长于上月在华盛顿说，奥巴马已向南非总统雅各布•祖马表示，如果美国队打进决赛，他将前往南非观看。

　　南非外交部长迈特•恩科阿纳•马沙巴内说：“我记得他说，如果美国队打进四分之一决赛，他可能会考虑来；如果打进半决赛，他可能会来；如果打进决赛，他一定会来。”

　　在本届世界杯中，美国与英国、斯洛文尼亚和阿尔及利亚同被分在C组。这是美国第九次参加世界杯，美国队在世界杯上的最佳战绩是在1930年的比赛中获得第三名。