| The tension is reaching the breaking point as South | | | | Johannesburg (Ellis Park Stadium, 61,000 seats), and |
| Africa prepares to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. | | | | Tshwane / Pretoria (Loftus Versveld Stadium, 49,000 |
| The stadiums are completed and already have | | | | seats). These three stadiums in South Africa's central |
| hosted pre-cup games. Major upgrades in the | | | | urban Metropolis will host three rounds of sixteen, |
| hospitality and transport sectors have come on line, | | | | two quarter finals, and the all-important final game at |
| the Rainbow Nation is ready, and South Africa will | | | | Soccer City in Soweto. In moments between exciting |
| continue to benefit long after the last ball has been | | | | matches, international soccer fans will have the |
| kicked and the final match has been played. | | | | opportunity to experience vibrant African city life and |
| This will be the first time that the prestigious | | | | the game reserves that lie beyond. |
| international event takes place on African soil. Why | | | | - The three soccer venues on South Africa's |
| this is, is an open question, given the fact that South | | | | southern and western coastal strip - Cape Town |
| Africa has successfully hosted both the 1997 World | | | | (Green Point Stadium, 66,000 seats), Durban (Durban |
| Rugby Cup and the 2003 World Cricket Cup, not to | | | | Stadium, 69,000 seats), and Nelson Mandela Bay / |
| mention the presence of internationally competitive | | | | Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 46,000 |
| African teams like Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and | | | | seats) - although not benefiting from the final game, |
| Cameroon, all of whom have a good chance of | | | | will nevertheless host three rounds of sixteen, two |
| taking home the FIFA trophy. | | | | quarter finals, and two semi final matches. Beyond |
| While South Africa's hopes of reaching the finals are | | | | these soccer stadiums, tourist destinations like the |
| not considered the best, the nature of soccer cup | | | | Cape Winelands, Addo Elephant Park, and the |
| competitions, and especially the FIFA World Cup, is | | | | stunning Drakensberg Mountains await, where match |
| that any team can win, and indeed, if the host | | | | celebrations or commiserations may be held. |
| country does take gold then it will not be the first | | | | - The remaining four Stadiums - Mangaung / |
| dark horse to do so. Although many of the matches | | | | Bloemfontein (Free State Stadium, 45,000 seats), |
| are scheduled to be played in the urban hubs of | | | | Rustenburg (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 44,000 seats), |
| Cape Town, Durban and the Soweto / Johannesburg | | | | Nelspruit (Mbombela Stadium, 43,000 seats), and |
| / Pretoria Metropolis, South Africa has ensured a | | | | Polokwane (Peter Mokaba Stadium, 45,000 seats) - all |
| wider spread of benefits by establishing ten stadiums | | | | have much more to offer than just two rounds of |
| across the country. All meet FIFA standards in terms | | | | sixteen between them. They are located near |
| of safety, team, and crowd comforts, and all | | | | conservation areas such as Golden Gate Highlands |
| compare with any other soccer stadium anywhere | | | | National Park, the legendary Rustenburg protected |
| else in the world: | | | | areas, the Blyde River Canyon, and surrounding areas |
| - The three most high profile stadiums are | | | | of exceptional natural beauty, not to mention the |
| Johannesburg (Soccer City, 88,000 seats), | | | | teeming herds of game in Kruger National Park. |