2010 Soccer World Cup - South Africa

The right to host the 2010 World Cup brings South Africa a unique opportunity that extends well beyond football.

One of the biggest impacts from hosting the 2010 FIFA SOCCER World Cup will come from the phenomenal marketing and communication opportunity it will offer the country and continent.As world attention focuses on the first African World Cup this is an opportunity for Africans to tell their own stories.

The 2010 National Communication Partnership is a joint effort of communicators across society and in the many creative and communication disciplines to take advantage of this communication opportunity of a lifetime to benefit our country and continent.

2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa Ambassadors

African Zone

53 teams, 5 places
A two-leg preliminary round will be held in October 2007 to reduce the field to 48 entrants. The teams will then be drawn into qualifying groups at a ceremony to be held in Durban on 23 November.

Asian Zone

43 teams, 4.5 places
Laos, Philippines and Brunei Darussalam are the only Asian sides not to have entered the qualifying competition for South Africa 2010. Four teams will go through directly with another Asian representative going into a play-off against the winner of the Oceania section.

European Zone

52 teams, 13 places
The European qualifiers get under way next summer, after UEFA EURO 2008, with teams playing each other home and away in groups to be drawn at the November ceremony in Durban.

North, Central American and Caribbean Zone

35 teams, 3.5 places
All the confederation's member associations have entered the qualifying competition. Three sides will qualify by right for South Africa 2010, with a fourth team going into a play-off with the fifth-place finisher in the CONMEBOL Zone.

Oceanian Zone

11 teams, 0.5 places
The OFC will get the global qualification race under way with a tournament at the Pacific Games in August 2007. The top three will then join New Zealand in a series of two-legged ties to decide who goes on to the play-off against the fifth-placed team from the AFC.

South American Zone

10 teams, 4.5 places
The qualification format involves a league system with teams playing each other home and away. The top four go through by right, with the side finishing fifth going into a play-off with the fourth-placed side from the CONCACAF Zone.

Preliminary Draw for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa

The footballing world is already buzzing with excitement in the run-up to 23 November 2007, the day on which Durban will host the draw for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa qualifying ties and groups.

South Africa’s second-biggest city on the shores of the Indian Ocean provides a majestic setting for the ceremony, an event which is attracting interest from all over the globe. Qualifying for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa has attracted a record total of 205 nations, all aiming to seal a berth at the showcase tournament from 11 June to 11 July 2010 in nine South African cities.

La coupe du monde de football de 2010 sera la 19ème édition de la Coupe du monde de football et aura lieu en Afrique du Sud. Ce pays deviendra ainsi le premier pays africain à accueillir l'épreuve.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou has been appointed Chairman of the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee.

Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Danny Jordaan has welcomed the appointment and feeling throughout South Africa is positive.

In 2001 Hayatou was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee during the Moscow session having previously served in the structures of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

He is a former athlete and basketball player and has served as an athletics trainer before he turned his attentions to football administration.

Joseph S. Blatter in South Africa: ”Nothing can prevent the 2010 FIFA World Cup from being staged here!”

The FIFA President has just completed a two-day visit to South Africa where he met the President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, his Deputy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and the board of directors of the South African Local Organising Committee (SALOC) chaired by Dr Irvin Khoza and featuring, among others, South African Football Association President Dr Molefi Oliphant and SALOC CEO Dr Danny Jordaan. Additional meetings were held with the Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo, the Premier of the Western Cape Province, Ebrahim Rasool, and the Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille.

Joseph S. Blatter was accompanied by FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou, who was recently appointed as the first African to chair the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™. David Will, Honorary FIFA Vice-President and chairman of the ticketing sub-committee, was also in attendance, as was Horst R. Schmidt, FIFA consultant for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

“I’m a happy man,” said a delighted FIFA President on more than one occasion. His satisfaction stemmed from what he had witnessed in Johannesburg and Cape Town over the past 48 hours. “Preparations are definitely on track. The enthusiasm in South Africa is phenomenal. I am absolutely convinced that, all together, we will deliver the best FIFA World Cup ever because it will be played in Africa,” he stressed.

At the SALOC board of directors meeting on 18 June, the FIFA President heard the latest information on key logistical issues such as stadiums, transportation and accommodation, and was pleased to note that significant progress has been made in all areas since his last visit to the country a year ago. “It’s important to acknowledge Joseph S. Blatter’s first visit to Africa since his re-election as FIFA President and it’s also important for the President to get a feel for the work that's underway in the country,” said Dr Irvin Khoza.

Following a very well attended press conference in front of the construction site of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg that will play host to matches including the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Joseph S. Blatter received a spontaneous cheer from the workers who are building the magnificent arena. “I’m here on my continent,” said the FIFA President.

The following day, he opened SALOC’s “business opportunities conference”, a forum to show communities and small- and medium-sized businesses how they could become involved and possibly benefit from South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The FIFA delegation then flew to Cape Town for an audience with Thabo Mbeki. At the ensuing media briefing, South Africa’s head of state said, “I’m glad to welcome these two fellow Africans!” in reference to Issa Hayatou and … Joseph S. Blatter. He then added, ”It is good that FIFA has a continuous focus on how South Africa is preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.” Joseph S. Blatter, meanwhile, thanked the South African government for its support, stressing that, “without such commitment, it would not be possible to achieve a successful FIFA World Cup.”

The FIFA President then went on to a meeting with Ebrahim Rasool and Helen Zille for the official launch ceremony of the Cape Town host city logo. “I’ve now received a comprehensive progress report from Cape Town and I have no doubt that everything will be ready here. Cape Town will play a major role during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Nine matches, including a semi-final, are scheduled here,” said the FIFA President. Mayor Zille noted that, “Cape Town has fully committed itself to making the 2010 FIFA World Cup a resounding success. We are the first host city to launch our logo. The situation for the building of the Green Point Stadium is complex but I’m delighted to say that we are on schedule.” Premier Rasool echoed the Mayor’s words: “We will be ready! The infrastructure is growing. We are also using this event to make things better in our society. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is a legacy, not only for Cape Town but also for South Africa as well as the entire African continent.”

Before leaving Cape Town, the FIFA delegation also had the opportunity to visit the Green Point Stadium construction site.

“The FIFA President and his assessment of the progress so far has been particularly encouraging. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is a project of hope for our country, the continent and the people. It is also the building of a monument as a legacy for the tremendous work done by persons like our former President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. It is in pursuing this objective that the FIFA President’s visit, his positive evaluation of our work and his comments will serve as a major inspiration for all of us,” concluded Dr Danny Jordaan.