South Africa Guide

South African Cities to Host 2010 FIFA Football World Cup

admin September 29th, 2009 0 Comments

Which cities of South Africa will host matches of the 2010 Football Word Cup?
Nine South African cities will stage the 2010 Fifa World Cup:  Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Polokwane.
South African 2010 World Cup Host cities on the SA map:

(Image: Mary Alexander, South Africa .info)

Johannesburg

The economic hub of Africa, Johannesburg is a bustling, sprawling city of contrasts, spread across the small but densely populated province of Gauteng.

• Johannesburg: quick profile
• Nearest airport: OR Tambo International
• 2010 World Cup stadiums: Soccer City and Ellis Park
• 2010 World Cup matches: 10 first-round (including the opening) and two second-round matches, two quarterfinals and the final.

Cape Town

South Africa’s oldest and loveliest city lies in Table Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of the Western Cape province. Beautiful buildings, the nearby winelands, long white beaches and a rich cultural life make Cape Town South Africa’s most favoured tourist destination.

• Cape Town: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Cape Town International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Greenpoint Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match, one quarterfinal, one semifinal.

Durban

A warm subtropical place and the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is a major tourist destination with the busiest port in South Africa.

• Durban: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Durban International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match, one semifinal.

Pretoria

Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, lying north of Johannesburg in the province of Gauteng. Over 150 years old, it is a place of grand monuments, delightful architecture and lovely open spaces.

• Pretoria: quick profile
• Nearest airport: OR Tambo International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match.

Port Elizabeth

Known as the Friendly City, Port Elizabeth lies in Nelson Mandela Bay on the windswept Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape province.

• Port Elizabeth: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Port Elizabeth Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match, one quarterfinal and the third-place playoff.

Bloemfontein

The former capital of a Boer republic and now capital of the Free State, Bloemfontein – the name means “flower fountain” – is a pretty city with thousands of rose bushes and some poignant memorials.

• Bloemfontein: quick profile
• Nearest airport: Bloemfontein Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Vodacom Park
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches, one second-round match.

Rustenburg

Its tranquil Jacaranda-lined streets belie the fact that the Rustenburg area in North West province is one of the world’s most heavily mined regions, with a wealth of platinum underground.

• Nearest airport: OR Tambo International
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: four first-round matches, one second-round match.

Nelspruit

The capital of Mpumalanga province lies in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River, about 330km east of Johannesburg.

• Nearest airport: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Mbombela Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: five first-round matches

Polokwane

The capital of Limpopo province is ideally situated near the border of the wildlife-rich, world-famous Kruger National Park.

• Nearest airport: Polokwane International Airport
• 2010 World Cup stadium: Peter Mokaba Stadium
• 2010 World Cup matches: four first-round matches

Other football tournaments: UEFA European Championship in Ukraine and Poland Euro-2012