2010 Football World Cup – South Africa

One of the most exciting developments for all South Africans in recent times was when South Africa was chosen to act as host for the biggest show on earth, the 19th FIFA World Cup.

Football Crazy

South Africans are football crazy! Football is the one of the most ardently supported sport by both players and fans alike.

Over the years football, or soccer, as it is known in South Africa, has largely been supported by the black population, since freedom in 1994 and South Africa’s victory at the African Cup of Nations in 1996, all South Africans, regardless of colour, creed or race, have embraced football as the national sport.

South Africa has been hard at work preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2010, and although there have been the usual initial fears as to South Africa’s ability to host an event of such magnitude, the country is very much on track with preparations.

R8 billion set aside for World Cup preparations

Government, together with the private sector, has set aside well over R8 billion to build new stadia, improve existing infrastructure and to set up a cost effective public transport system that will be used by all South Africans well after the final match of the FIFA World Cup!

South Africa has put the safety and security of all our World Cup guests in top priority and there is a system in place that adequately meets all the stringent standards and controls set by FIFA. The nation is dedicated to making your trip to the 2010 FiFA World Cup in South Africa a safe and enjoyable one.

The Venues

32 teams from 6 confederations will take place in the World Cup and South Africa. FIFA has announced the ten venues to host the fixtures:

• Soccer City in Johannesburg – 94 700 capacity
• Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban – 70 000
• Green Point Stadium in Cape Town – 70 000
• Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg – 62 567
• Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria – 50 000
• Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth – 48 000
• Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein – 48 000
• Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit – 40 000
• Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane – 45 000
• Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg – 42 000

Although South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, has struggled to find form in recent times, they have proved their pedigree by lifting the 1996 African Nations Cup, only four years after coming into existence for the first time in history!