Facts About the World’s Greatest Soccer Tournament
Sunday, August 23, 2009
This year the 2010 FIFA World Cup will take place in South Africa, fulfilling a dream of millions to host this soccer tournament on African soil.
With less than a year till kick-off, soccer teams around the world are jockeying for position in their Groups and fans are making plans to travel to South Africa next July for one of the greatest sporting extravaganzas on the planet.
When Was the Winning 2010 World Cup Bid Announced?
On 15 May 2004, in Zurich, FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced to the world that South Africa would host the 2010 World Cup, the first on African soil. After South Africa’s victory was announced, Nelson Mandela hoisted the World Cup trophy and Archbishop Desmond Tutu embraced Blatter. “I feel like a young man of 15,” said Mandela, who was 85 at the time.
How Many Teams Are in the Competition?
A total of 200 teams entered the race for one of the 31 places at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. (The host nation, South Africa, is automatically in the final, number 32). The final draw will be held in Cape Town on 4 December 2009.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will be staged at 10 venues across nine South African cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, and Pretoria. Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic capital is home to two World Cup stadiums, Soccer City and Ellis Park.
The 2010 Stadiums in South Africa
Five of South Africa's football stadiums have undergone major renovations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg in North West Province and Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein in the Free State.
New stadiums are nearing completion at Mbombela in Mpumalanga and in the Nelson Mandela Metro (Port Elizabeth). Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane in Limpopo has been rebuilt, and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as well as Cape Town's Green Point stadium are on schedule for completion in October 2009. Meanwhile the rest of South Africa is also gearing up for 2010.
What is the South African National Team Called?
The South African National team is called Bafana Bafana (which means the boys, the boys in isiZulu). Bafana Bafana is coached by Brazilian, Joel Santana. Aaron Mokena is the Captain.
Will the Vuvuzela be Allowed at the 2020 World Cup Games?
Yes, this noisy plastic trumpet that is part of the indigenous culture of South African soccer has been given the blessing by FIFA. The Vuvuzela will stay.
Official Match Schedule for 2010 Soccer World Cup
The Official Match Schedule for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to take place in South Africa between 11 June and 11 July 2010 has been released.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup is will be soccer tournament like no other. The World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 final in Germany.
The copyright of the article The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in International Soccer is owned by Karen Lotter. Permission to republish The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.{#}
Labels: FIFA, FIFA 2010, South Africa
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