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| Home / Articles / FIFA 2010 / South Africa's FIFA 2010 World Cup Stadiums - overview |
| South Africa's FIFA 2010 World Cup Stadiums - overview |
Soccer City, Johannesburg
Soccer City, also known as the FNB Stadium, will host both the opening and closing matches of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Built in 1987, Soccer City has played host to some of the most memorable matches in South Africa’s soccer history and is one of the pivotal 2010 world cup stadiums.
The seating capacity has been expanded from 80 000 of the original FNB stadium to 94 700 for the greatest global sporting event. Some significant changes are in place for the World Cup: the upper tier is being extended around the stadium, with the addition of an encircling roof. New changing rooms have been developed, as well as the installation of new floodlights.
The ground's design is inspired by the iconic African calabash. Soccer City is located in Johannesburg's southwest near football-mad Soweto, and surrounded by world cup soccer 2010 accommodation.
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Ellis Park Stadium is a major football venue in South Africa and will be one of the major 2010 world cup stadiums. It will host one of the World Cup Quarter-finals, among other matches. Major renovations included new upper tiers added behind each goal, accommodating an extra 10 000 seats, raising the seating capacity to the required 70 000.
It is most noted as the venue where, in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, South Africa beat New Zealand during extra time in one of the countries first big sporting victories after the apartheid era. For this reason Ellis Park has a special place in the hearts of many South Africans, with iconic scenes of Nelson Mandela holding aloft the trophy were on screens and in papers around the world.
The stadium is located in Johannesburg central and has hosted many big sporting events including the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup between Brazil and the United States. The ground was given a significant overhaul before the Confederations Cup and has a seating capacity of 62,000. Some of the changes include state-of-the-art media facilities, team whirlpools, VIP areas for dignitaries and stadium accessibility for disabled fans.
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Right in the centre of the sub-tropical heat of exotic Durban is the new Moses Mabhida Stadium. Proposed as a semi-final venue for the 2010 soccer World Cup, The Moses Mabhida Stadium is located adjacent the ABSA Stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct.
Kings Park Stadium was demolished in late 2006 to develop this new stadium complex which comprises an adjoining indoor arena, sporting museum, sport institute and a new transportation station. The seating capacity is set to be 70 000.
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Only a few minutes drive from proposed FIFA and team hotels in Bloemfontein, easy access for World cup Soccer 2010 accommodation, the Free State Stadium is a dedicated sporting environment.
For the 2010 Soccer World Cup, a second tier was added to the main grandstand, which increases the seating capacity to 48,000. New turnstiles were erected, floodlights upgraded, electronic scoreboards installed and the sound system was revamped.
The Free State is reputed to be home to some of the country's most fanatical supporters, and thus likely to be the hub of attentions during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is being completely transformed into a new 70 000 seater, multi-purpose, all-weather, environmentally sustainable, technologically advanced, first class 2010 soccer world cup stadium. Perched between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of Africa, this impressive South African landmark stadium is a walk away from the beaches, transport and stunning Cape scenery. Green Point Stadium is one of the two semi-final venues for the FIFA World Cup.
Cape Town is South Africa’s most popular tourist destination city, and no doubt promises to entertain its visitors on every level during the FIFA 2010 world cup.
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Situated in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, the stadium has a capacity of 46,000. Close to the city centre and Kruger-Mpumalanga Airport, the ground is also within close proximity of various game parks. The Mbombela is a new addition to football in Nelspruit, the first top football venue to host international matches in the area.
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Located in Polokwane, The Peter Mokaba Stadium, one of the 2010 world cup stadiums is the first world class football venue in the soccer-crazy province of Limpopo. The seating capacity has been greatly increased to 46000, with four two-tiered stands. The stadium is named in honour of controversial anti-apartheid activist, Peter Mokaba, who was born in Polokwane.
Nelson Mandela Stadium, Port Elizabeth
This brand new world-class stadium has five-tiers and seats 44,000 fans with an additional 4000 temporary seats available for the 2010 soccer World Cup. The aesthetically pleasing roof was specifically designed to withstand Port Elizabeth's notorious winds, and the stadium is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and two giant screens.
The Nelson Mandela Stadium is ideally located, as it is two kilometres from the coast, and a short drive from Port Elizabeth hotels and world cup soccer 2010 accommodation. The stadium is one of the newly-built 2010 world cup stadiums, and impressively, was completed a year before the start of 2010 world cup.
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Loftus Versfeld is situated 5 km from the city centre of Tshwane (Pretoria). Before the stadium could be world cup ready, the floodlights, sound system and scoreboard were upgraded and designated media areas were set up in the west stand. One of the oldest stadiums in South Africa, Loftus Versfeld has undergone many renovations including its four major stands being totally rebuilt.
It has a seating capacity of 50,000, and has hosted many important matches including some during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations.
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is situated in Rustenburg in the North West Province. The stadium was opened in 1999 and funded by the Royal Bafokeng community. For World cup stadium qualification, the capacity of the stadium was increased to 42,000 with the construction of two additional seating rows on the second level. Floodlights, new electronic scoreboards and a new public address system were all installed to meet requirements.
Just a few kilometers outside the city centre, the stadium is a 25 minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilansberg.
For more information on where and when the matches will be played, have a look at our 2010 World Cup Stadiums overview, and for more information on world cup soccer 2010 accommodation and bookings during the FIFA 2010 soccer World cup, have a look at our tailor made packages or contact us.
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FIFA 2010: Stadiums and fixtures
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