US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen today said Bangladeshis can never go wrong in the long run by betting on the United States in the World Cup.

He made the remark while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the foreign ministry this afternoon.

Ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visits to Malaysia and China beginning tomorrow, the US ambassador, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi separately called on the foreign minister.

Asked whether the meetings were linked to the prime minister's upcoming China visit, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said they were part of routine bilateral engagements.

"We will visit all countries in the interest of our country and our people. We will go to India at some point, the US and any other countries. We are not supposed to consult any other country on where to go or not," he told reporters.

When approached by journalists after the meeting, Christensen avoided discussing the talks and instead referred to the FIFA World Cup.

"So, I was down here for a very important reason. Last night, the US won a resounding victory over Australia in the World Cup, moving on to the next round," he said.

"So, I was here to encourage the foreign minister and all Bangladeshis to support the US in the World Cup going forward, because you can never go wrong in the long run by betting on the United States."

The US secured a place in the World Cup knockout stage with a game to spare after defeating Australia 2-0 on June 19.