Guide to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

The 2010 World Cup runs from 11th June to the 11thCup will be staged in Cape Town on the 4th
July and will feature 32 teams from all over the globeDecember 2009. The draw will be a prestigious
competing for the prize of the best team in theevent, held in the full glare of the world's media. The
world. A total of 64 matches will be played at 9draw will be held at the Cape Town International
venues throughout South Africa. The current WorldConvention Centre.
Cup Holders are Italy who have to qualify for theHosting Venues and Stadiums
tournament through the European Qualifying Groups.There are 19 host cities and ten stadiums to be used
Qualification for the 2010 Tournamentfor the 2010 World Cup and these are as follows:
32 teams qualify for the competition, as hosts South· Johannesburg - Soccer City Stadium and
Africa gain automatic entry, and they will play inCoca-Cola Park
Group A. There are 8 groups of 4 teams in the· Durban - Moses Mabhida Stadium
World Cup Group Stage, with the top 2 teams· Cape Town - The Green Point Stadium
entering the pre determined draw for 8 second· Pretoria - Lotus Versfeld Stadium
round games, and leading on to 4 quarter finals, and· Bloemfontein - Free State Stadium
then 2 semi finals to decide who will meet in the final· Port Elizabeth - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
decider. In total, there will be 64 matches played in· Nelspruit - Mbombela Stadium
the 2010 World Cup.· Polokwane - Peter Mokaba Stadium
Apart from the host nation, 5 other nations have· Rustenberg - Royal Bafokeng Stadium
already qualified for the 2010 Tournament: North andMany of the stadiums are brand new, and certainly
South Korea, Holland, Australia and Japan. Thelooked impressive during the Summer Confederations
remainder of the qualification group stages have toCup. The first game, its lavish opening ceremony and
be completed in Europe, Asia, Central and Souththe tournament final will take place in the 95,000
America, and all places for South Africa will becapacity Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. The
confirmed by November 2009! Qualification is now atsemi finals will take place in Cape Town and Durban,
a delicate stage in all football zones!and the third place play off match will take place in
The Final Group Stage draw for the 2010 FIFA WorldPort Elizabeth.