Green Point Stadium, Cape Town

One of the most artistic football venues in South Africa, the newly-built Green Point Stadium is situated in one of the much sought-after areas in the city of Cape Town. Green Point Stadium is one of the two semi-final venues for the FIFA World Cup™.

This multi-purpose venue is also going to be used to stage major events and concerts. Fans will be a stone's throw from the ocean and the mountains of Cape Town will also provide the backdrop for matches. The location is ideal as it is a short walk from the transportation hub of the city. The new stadium has been partly built on land that was previously used as a golf course.

The stadium, which has an exterior that is covered with noise-reducing cladding has a capacity of 70,000 and is scheduled for completion in December 2009. The Green Point Common, on which the new 2010 stadium is being built, was originally much larger than what now remains, and included most of the land between the sea and Signal Hill, stretching from the city centre towards Sea Point.

Cape Town has another world-standard stadium, Newlands, but this is primarily used as a rugby union venue. Post FIFA World Cup, the Green Point Stadium is likely to be used by some of the Cape Town-based professional football outfits that include Ajax Cape Town and Santos.

Stadium: Green Point
City: Cape Town
Construction: new
Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 66,005

Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

The newly-built Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will host one of the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The ground epitomises the architectural innovation on display in South Africa and takes its design inspiration from the South African flag, with its grand arch representing the unity of this sport-loving nation. The two legs of the arch on the southern side of the stadium come together to form a single footing on the northern side, symbolising the new unity of a once-divided country.

The 70,000-seater has been specifically designed as a multi-purpose venue and an amphitheatre complete with a cable car which ascends to a viewing platform at the top of the expansive 350m arch, a staggering 106m above the pitch. From this vantage point, visitors can experience spectacular panoramic views of the nearby shoreline and the city. The roof is attached to the arch by 95mm-diameter steel cables. Each seat of the stadium is spacious and comfortable, providing a clear line of sight to the pitch.

It is a world-class and multifunctional arena located in the heart of the Kings Park Sporting Precinct. Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium will be the jewel in the crown of the Kings Park Sporting precinct. The entire area will feature additional sporting arenas and facilities as well as restaurants, shops, play areas for children and a pedestrian walkway linking the stadium complex to the beach.

The stadium was built on the site of the old Kings Park Stadium. Moses Mabhida, the ground's namesake, was born in Thornville near Pietermaritzburg on 14 October 1923 into a poor family who were later forced off their land. In 1963, Mabhida was asked by Oliver Tambo while working in Prague rallying support from the World Federation of Trade Unions, to come back to Africa to develop the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). He underwent military training and became the chief political instructor of new military recruits. He later served as the commander of MK.

Stadium: Moses Mabhida
City: Durban
Construction: new
Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 69,957

Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Ellis Park Stadium is located in the centre of Johannesburg and has hosted many epic sporting events including the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup between Brazil and the United States. The ground was given a significant face-lift before the Confederations Cup finals and now seats 62,000 fans, increasing its capacity by almost nine per cent from the previous 57,000.

Ellis Park was first built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1982, again exclusively for rugby. It was named after JD Ellis, a Johannesburg city councilor who approved the use of the land for a stadium, setting aside a full 13 acres.

The ground will always occupy a special place in the hearts of the country's sporting fans after the South African rugby team shocked New Zealand to lift the 1995 Rugby World Cup trophy soon after being allowed back onto the world sporting stage. It was a moment that brought the people of South Africa together in celebration as the iconic scenes of Nelson Mandela holding aloft the trophy at Ellis Park were beamed around the world.

The largest piece of construction has been the new tier on the north stand which has increased the seating capacity to 62,000. With state-of-the-art media facilities, team whirlpools, top-class VIP areas for dignitaries, accessibility for disabled fans, a new pitch and a top-notch audio-visual setup to keep the fans informed during the game, no one will be left disappointed. Ellis Park is home to one of the country's most popular clubs, Orlando Pirates FC.

Stadium: Ellis Park
City: Johannesburg
Built: 1982
Construction: upgrade
Construction Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 61,639

Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

One of the most artistic and awe-inspiring football venues on the African continent, the newly-reconstructed Soccer City Stadium will host the first and final matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

The ground's design is inspired by the iconic African pot known as the calabash, and its aesthetic appeal will be heightened when the stadium is lit at night. Soccer City is located in Johannesburg's southwest and is only a short distance from one of the country's football-crazy townships, Soweto. About 40 per cent of Johannesburg's population live in Soweto and this proximity is bound to make the stadium a hub of activity throughout the 2010 finals.

The stadium is widely regarded as the heart of football in South Africa as it has hosted many important matches through history. In the mid 1980s, officials came together to build the first international football stadium in the country and the construction was funded from the football fraternity's coffers. Soccer City hosted the first mass rally of Nelson Mandela after his release from prison in 1990. Thousands of mourners lamented Chris Hani's assassination at the stadium in 1993. It was also the venue for the 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations final, with South Africa eventually triumphing 2-0 over Tunisia.

The original stadium, which was known as the FNB Stadium, had a capacity of 80,000. Upgrades involved extending the upper tier to increase the capacity to 94,700; adding 99 more suites to bring the number to 184; constructing an encircling roof; adding new changing room facilities and installing new floodlighting.

Stadium: Soccer City
City: Johannesburg
Built: 1987
Construction: upgrade
Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 88,460

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Home to some of the country's most fanatical group of supporters, the Free State Stadium is likely to be the centre of attention during the FIFA World Cup™. The stadium was given a plush new look for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup . It hosted the memorable semi-final match between Spain and USA where the latter secured one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by sending the European champions packing in front of a capacity crowd.

The Free State Stadium was upgraded from a capacity of 38,000 to 45,000 during the refurbishments. The stadium has hosted numerous major football and rugby union matches, and Bloemfontein's natives are renowned for their passion for sport. While the former played second fiddle to the latter for decades, football's popularity explosion - aided by the emergence of Bloemfontein Celtic - is changing this. The Celtic fans are known as Siwelele, a Sotho term.

Stadium: Free State
City: Mangaung / Bloemfontein
Built: 1952
Construction: upgrade
Completion: 2008
Gross Capacity: 45,058

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, set on the shores of the North End Lake is the first football dedicated stadium in the city or surrounding areas. The stadium, one of the newly-built stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, was completed a year prior to the commencement of the world's greatest show on earth - a major milestone for the city.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host the match for third place , and a quarter-final amid a total of eight matches during the FIFA World Cup. The stadium has an eye-catching, unique roof-structure and a spectacular view, overlooking the North End Lake.

Before the construction of this multi-purpose venue, all international football matches were played at the Eastern Province rugby stadium, the EPRU Stadium. The playing field is going to be of natural grass with the outer /surrounding area to be artificial turf. One of its first major test events was the coveted Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs - a game that attracts capacity crowds in South Africa.

Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay
City: Port Elizabeth
Construction: new
Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 46,082

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

The Mbombela Stadium is one of the newly-built stadia for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and it takes its name from the local municipality which incorporates the city of Nelspruit. Mbombela is siSwati (one of the 11 official languages in South Africa) and literally means 'many people together in a small space.'

The stadium, with a capacity of 46,000, is located in the city of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga Province. It is situated approximately seven kilometers from the city centre and 12 kilometers from the nearby Kruger-Mpumalanga Airport. The ground also enjoys a close proximity to various game parks, giving spectators the opportunity to see the wildlife during rest days.

The Mbombela comes as a welcome addition to football life in Nelspruit, and will leave a legacy of the beautiful game for all the people of Mpumalanga. Before the Stadium's construction, Nelspruit had no top football venue to host international matches.

Stadium: Mbombela
City: Nelspruit
Construction: new
Completion: 2009
Gross Capacity: 43,589

Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Named after one of the renowned sons of the struggle and emancipation of South Africa against the apartheid regime, the Peter Mokaba Stadium holds much historical significance in South Africa. Peter Mokaba was born and bred in Polokwane and was renowned for his fighting spirit and for his inpirational leadership.

The design of the largely concrete structure is inspired by the locally iconic Baobab tree, with the steel structure supporting the roof plane gathered together at each corner of the stadium and supported by giant ‘trunk' structures which accommodate vertical circulation ramps and service cores.

The stadium was built next to the old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in the Limpopo Province. The newly-built Peter Mokaba stadium is situated approximately 5km from the city centre, with a total seating capacity of 45,000.

Former African player of the Year, Didier Drogba made his international debut for Côte d'Ivoire in a memorable and decisive CAF African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium, with the home side prevailing 2-1.

Stadium: Peter Mokaba
City: Polokwane
Construction: new
Completion: 2010
Gross Capacity: 45,264

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Tshwane/Pretoria

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, situated in Tshwane/ Pretoria, is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa. The stadium has been used for major sporting events since 1903, and the first concrete structure, which could accommodate only 2,000 spectators, was built by the City Council of Pretoria in 1923.

Since 1948 it has undergone perennial upgrades. It has been used for both rugby and football matches and is home to one of the country's top rugby teams, the Blue Bulls. Loftus Versfeld is in the heart of Tshwane/Pretoria and currently has a seating capacity of 50,000. It has hosted many significant matches including during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations. It is now used by Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United as their home ground.

South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana, achieved its first ever victory over a European side at this venue when they beat Sweden 1-0 in 1999.

Stadium: Loftus Versfeld
City: Tshwane/Pretoria
Built: 1906
Construction: upgrade
Completion: 2008
Gross Capacity: 49,365

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is one of the stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area.

In 1999, the Bafokeng won a legal battle, which entitled them to 20% on the platinum which is mined on their historical land. Hence, they have shares in platinum mining in the area. Upon completion, the stadium will seat 42,000.

The South African national team played a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Bakino Faso in 2001, and won 2-1. It has been host to many Premier Soccer League games despite Rustenburg not having its own team.

The stadium is only a 25 minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilansberg. It is 12 kilometers from the Rustenburg city centre.

Stadium: Royal Bafokeng
City: Rustenburg
Built: 1999
Construction: 2010 upgrade
Gross Capacity: 44,530

FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa Official Mascot

So what can we say about him? One thing is for sure, Zakumi will be first on the dancefloor and last off it at the biggest party in the world - the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. He wants to dance and entertain as many people as he can. He is an animator for fans, players and officials, for schoolchildren, teenagers and big kids alike!

Needless to say, he is extremely proud to be the Official Mascot and determined to be the best host for everyone visiting his beloved country. He symbolizes South Africa and the rest of the African continent through his self-confidence, pride, hospitality, social skills and warm-heartedness.

Zakumi is a jolly, self-confident, adventurous, spontaneous, and actually quite shrewd little fellow. He loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, yet sometimes has the tendency to exaggerate a bit. You will often find him fooling about and teasing people but not in a mean way. He is warm-hearted and caring, and wants to make as many friends as possible.

He loves to play football as it is a great way to connect with others and break down language barriers. He always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him. Zakumi loves football. At one time he decided to dye his hair green as he felt it would be the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch; a bit like his rosette spots are when hunting in the wilderness!

He does have one striking weakness. With all his energy, he needs frequent rests. Occasionally, in-between performances on stage, he may suddenly fall asleep on the spot at the most random times! But rest assured, these are only short breaks that a leopard of his calibre needs to recharge his batteries.

Over the last years he has travelled the whole of Africa where the leopard habitat is good (pretty much everywhere from open savannahs, forests, jungles to mountainous areas, even deserts). He has therefore learned to adapt to new environments; enjoying the diversity in nature and people across the African continent

The name ‘Zakumi' is a composition of ‘ZA' standing for South Africa and ‘kumi', which translates into ‘10' in various languages across Africa. Zakumi's main priority is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent.

"He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil. He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa," explained Lucas Radebe, South Africa's football icon and close friend of Zakumi.

FIFA World Cup 2010 - The Official Ball

World Cup 2010: Official World Cup Ball “JABULANI” Unveiled In South Africa. The new adidas official World Cup match ball was presented to the world before the draw in South Africa.

Named, “JABULANI” which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu, the new adidas ball will be the only ball used during the month-long tournament that starts in June.

11 is a big number that relates to the “JABULANI” ball as it sports an impressive 11 different colors. This was chosen for the 11 players who take the field for every team during the tournament, the 11 official languages of South Africa, (isiZulu is spoken by 25% of the people), and the 11 South African tribes that make the country extremely diverse.

The ball’s design was created to, “lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit. Like the outer facade of Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, individual design elements capture the colorfulness of South Africa.” “For me, contact with the ball is all-important,” says Real Madrid’s Brazilian superstar Kaka. “That’s just great with this ball.”

Using revolutionary ‘Grip’n’Groove’ technology, the ball is covered in small aero grooves that provide, “unmatched flight characteristics, making this the most stable and most accurate adidas ball ever.”

In addition, the “goose bumps” effect that was first seen in the 2008 European Championships has been upgraded in the “JABULANI” ball giving it a, “more futuristic texture and extensive grip.” Facing the prospect of stopping the ball, Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper, Petr Cech really can feel the power of the ball, “You can feel the energy coming towards you,” said Cech. “Like a shot.”

Tested for use at Loughborough University in England and at the adidas football laboratory in Germany, the “JABULANI” ball was put into action through adidas’ partnership with the world-class athletes at AC Milan, FC Bayern Munchen, the Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town.

World Cup stadiums 'will be 95% full'

World football's governing body is expecting a spectator turnout of 95-97% for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ – numbers also achieved in Germany in 2006. Fifa is also confident that more than 300 000 tickets left for the tournament will be sold out before kick-off on 11 June.

Addressing the media in Zurich on Friday, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said that, judging by the tickets sales and the excitement around Africa's first World Cup, there was no reason to get numbers below what was achieved in Germany.

He alluded to the fact that more than 200 000 tickets had been sold in first eight days of the latest sales phase. "If we can sell so many tickets in eight days, what can stop us from selling 300 000 in the next days left," Blatter said.

Fifa is also considering reviewing its ticketing policy following lessons learnt in South Africa. "This World Cup has taught us a lot of lessons," said Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke. "Maybe we need to be more flexible moving forward to 2014."

Blatter, who played an instrumental role in bring the tournament to Africa, said the excitement shown by South Africans towards the tournament over the past weeks has made him even more confident.

Millions of South Africans have risen to the occasion by taking part in several initiatives aimed at boosting the country's image as a soccer loving nation.

These include the Football Fridays initiative, which Blatter described as "phenomenal", and the Fly the Flag for Football campaign. The 50 days countdown, a campaign organised by the Local Organising Committee, also attracted a lot international media attention.

"I wouldn't say I'm nervous; I'm like an actor getting ready to go to the stage ... the adrenalin is pumping," Blatter said.

It was Blatter who, in 1998, amid protest from several football associations across Europe, called for the rotation policy in Fifa to give an African country an opportunity to host the World Cup.

It took him months of lobbying and convincing to get the majority of Fifa members to pass the rotation system.

South African and Egypt were among the first African countries to show interest in hosting the event, launching bids to host the 2006 World Cup in 2000. South Africa lost to Germany by one vote.

Blatter admitted that had it not been for the rotation system, it was unlikely that the current generation of South Africans would be able to see the soccer spectacular live on their doorstep.

He was too happy to see the tournament being played in the country of Nelson Mandela. "Our only wish is for him to attend, and we are crossing our fingers that Nelson Mandela can realize his goal to attend the first world cup in South Africa, and we are told he is doing very well."