| The 2010 FIFA World Cup matches will be played in | | | | stadium is a jewel in the Johannesburg skyline. |
| stadiums all over South Africa, some of which are | | | | Free State Stadium. |
| being specially built for the tournament. Here is an | | | | Free State Stadium is home to the Bloemfontein |
| informational breakdown about the spectacular | | | | Celtic soccer team, whose fans are renowned the |
| venues that will host some of the most exciting and | | | | world over for being some of the most loyal a team |
| talented soccer players from every corner of the | | | | could desire. Located in Mangaung / Bloemfontein, a |
| globe in June and July of 2010. | | | | quiet open city, the stadium has already been the |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | | | | venue for a huge recent soccer upset when it |
| On the beautiful shores of the North End Lake in | | | | hosted the semi final game of the Confederations |
| Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth lies the newly | | | | Cup in 2009 that saw the USA send European |
| constructed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The | | | | champions Spain packing in front of a capacity crowd. |
| construction crews working on the venue knew it | | | | The Free State Stadium underwent a full renovation |
| had to be completed in time for the World Cup but | | | | before the Confederations Cup that added 7,000 |
| they actually finished almost a year ahead of | | | | seats to bring its seating capacity up to 45,000. |
| schedule and the stadium is already in use. The | | | | Mbombela Stadium |
| playing field of this multipurpose center has a central | | | | Mbombela Staduim, located in Nelspruit, a city which is |
| natural grass pitch surrounded by areas of artificial | | | | a part of the famous Kruger National Park, is another |
| turf. Its unique domed roof only adds to the beautiful | | | | new construction that was commissioned especially |
| view of the lake as seen from the shore. Nelson | | | | to host World Cup 2010 games. Mbombela is the |
| Mandela Bay Stadium will host a total of eight World | | | | name of the municipality of which Nelspruit is a part |
| Cup matches including one of the quarter finals and | | | | and translated from SiSawti, one the 11 languages |
| the third place playoff game. | | | | officially spoken in South Africa,it means "many |
| Green Point Stadium | | | | people together in a small space." The construction of |
| The architectural splendor of the Green Point Stadium | | | | the stadium was especially welcomed by the citizens |
| in Cape Town is nothing short of breathtaking. This is | | | | of this beautiful area, as prior to its existence there |
| another of the stadiums that are being especially built | | | | was no real top class venue available to host |
| for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, but long after the | | | | international events of any kind. |
| soccer stars leave town city officials intend for it to | | | | Peter Mokaba Stadium |
| become the new Mecca for all kinds of Cape Town | | | | Named after its most famous son Peter Mokaba, |
| entertainment events; everything from soccer to | | | | who was a force to be reckoned with during the |
| opera. The outside of the stadium has been | | | | struggle to end apartheid, the city of Polokwane's |
| constructed using noise reducing cladding and can sit | | | | brand new stadium is built next to the site of the old |
| up to 70,000 spectators at any given time. Green | | | | Peter Mokaba Staduim where former African player |
| Point Stadium will be the venue for one of the two | | | | of the year and current Chelsea soccer superstar |
| World Cup semi finals that will be played in July of | | | | Didier Drogba made his debut for the Côte |
| 2010. | | | | d'Ivoire national team. The new stadium was |
| Moses Mabhida Stadium | | | | envisioned by its architects to resemble the local |
| The other semi final will be held at the spectacular | | | | natural icon the Baobab tree, as its steel structures |
| Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. This stadium, | | | | will form "trunks" to support the jutting roof planes. |
| which is scheduled to be completed by December of | | | | Royal Bafokeng Stadium |
| 2009, is a testament to the sheer ingenuity of South | | | | The Royal Bafokeng Stadium was first built in 1999, |
| African architecture. Its shape is inspired by the | | | | but is undergoing a considerable facelift prior to its |
| South African flag itself and when complete it will | | | | hosting duties for the 2010 World Cup matches. |
| even feature a cable car that will ascend to the top | | | | Seating 42,000 it is named for the people of the |
| of the expansive 1148 foot high arch, allowing visitors | | | | area, the Bafokeng. Although the town of |
| a spectacular view of the lively city down below. The | | | | Rustenberg, where it is located, has no soccer team |
| stadium's namesake was a poor farm boy who went | | | | to call its own at this time it has been the site of |
| on to engineer and develop the armed wing of the | | | | numerous Premier Soccer league games and was the |
| ANC, which was known as the Umkhonto we Sizwe, | | | | stadium where the then fledgling South African |
| and played a key role in the end of apartheid in his | | | | soccer team beat Bakino Faso 2-1 in a World Cup |
| homeland. | | | | qualifying game in 2001. |
| Ellis Park Stadium | | | | Loftus Versfeld Stadium |
| Ellis Park Stadium, located in the heart of | | | | The Loftus Versfeld Stadium is one of the oldest |
| Johannesburg, is not a new facility, although it is | | | | sports facilitates in South Africa. Originally constructed |
| underwent a significant renovation before playing | | | | in 1903 it has undergone a great many renovations |
| host to the 2009 Confederations Cup Final | | | | over the decades. It is located in the beautiful |
| showdown between Brazil and the USA. The largest | | | | Tshwane/Pretoria area, which is a spectacular blend |
| piece of new construction was the addition of a new | | | | of old and new architecture that reflects the areas |
| tier of seating at the north end which increased the | | | | diverse heritage. When it was first built as a wooden |
| seating capacity to 62,000. A brand new natural | | | | structure the Loftus Versfeld Stadium could |
| grass pitch has also been installed and a state of the | | | | accommodate a mere 2,000 spectators. Its capacity |
| art audio visual system installed to ensure every fan | | | | for the 2010 World Cup will be 50,000. |
| gets the best possible match experience. | | | | The people of South Africa are hoping that by |
| Soccer City Stadium | | | | hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010 they can |
| Both the first and the most anticipated game of the | | | | showcase their beautiful country to peoples of the |
| 2010 FIFA World Cup, the final, will be played at the | | | | world who know very little about it, as well as prove |
| iconic Soccer City Stadium, also located in | | | | that the country truly desires to become a world |
| Johannesburg. Although newly renovated, the Soccer | | | | soccer force to be reckoned with. To that end |
| City Stadium has already been the site of numerous | | | | thousands of construction workers have been |
| historic moments in time. It was there that Nelson | | | | working night and day to ensure that all the stadiums |
| Mandela held his first public rally after being freed | | | | die to host World Cup matches will be in perfect |
| from prison in 1990 and thousands gathered again in | | | | condition to do so. |
| 1993 to mourn the assassination of Chris Hani, the | | | | To recognize this effort FIFA announced a few |
| charismatic man who followed in Nelson Mandela's | | | | months ago that they will be giving away 20,000 free |
| footsteps as leader of the ANC. The venue can | | | | tickets to the men and women who are working so |
| accommodate an astonishing 94,700 spectators and | | | | hard to make sure that the FIFA 2010 World Cup is |
| its overall design is fashioned after a traditional South | | | | a resounding success. |
| African pot called the calabash. When lit at night, the | | | | |