South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup, the first tournament to be held on the African continent. Fifa have released details of the venues and match dates for the nineteenth playing of the competition.

Match Schedules

There will be six groups of four teams for the group stages, which will run from June 11th through to June 29th.

The quarter-finals will take place on July 2nd and 3rd with the semi-finals on July 6th and 7th.

The play off for third place will be on July 10th and the final will be held at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday July 11th.

Tournament Venues

Ten stadiums will be used during the tournament. Five of South Africa’s football stadiums will undergo renovation for the 2010 World Cup – Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Royal Bafokeng Stadium and the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

New arenas will be constructed at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo will be rebuilt along with the King Senzangakhona Stadium in Durban.

Kings Park and the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town will become arenas with multi-sport facilities.

World Cup 2010

World Cup 2010 in South Africa promises to be an exciting and vibrant event, recognising the growing power and influence the continent of Africa has in world soccer.

Stadium Details

Johannesburg

Soccer City – will stage the opening game and final / Capacity: 94,700

Ellis Stadium / Capacity: 60,000

Cape Town

Greenpoint Stadium / Capacity: 70,000

Durban

Senzangakhona Stadium / Capacity: 70,000

Nelspruit

Mbombela Stadium / Capacity: 40,000

Rustenburg

Royal Bafokeng Stadium / Capacity: 40,000

Pretoria

Loftus Versfeld Stadium / Capacity: 50,000

Polokwane

Peter Mokaba Stadium / Capacity: 40,000

Port Elizabeth

The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium / Capacity: 49,500

Bloemfontein

Free State Stadium / Capacity: 40,000

Previous Tournament Winners

Germany 2006

Winner: Italy / Runner Up: France / Third: Germany / Fourth: Portugal

Korea / Japan 2002

Winner: Brazil / Runner Up: Germany / Third: Turkey / Fourth: Korea Republic

France 1998

Winner: France / Runner Up: Brazil / Third: Croatia / Fourth: The Netherlands

USA 1994

Winner: Brazil / Runner Up: Italy / Third: Sweden / Fourth: Bulgaria

Italy 1990

Winner: Germany FR / Runner Up: Argentina / Third: Italy / Fourth: England

Mexico 1986

Winner: Argentina / Runner Up: Germany FR / Third: France / Fourth: Belgium

Spain 1982

Winner: Italy / Runner Up: Germany FR / Third: Poland / Fourth: France

Argentina 1978

Winner: Argentina / Runner Up: The Netherlands / Third: Brazil / Fourth: Italy:

Germany 1974

Winner: Germany FR / Runner Up: The Netherlands / Third: Poland / Fourth: Brazil

Mexico 1970

Winner: Brazil / Runner Up: Italy / Third: Germany FR / Fourth: Uruguay

England 1966

Winner: England / Runner Up: Germany FR / Third: Portugal / Fourth: Soviet Union

Chile 1962

Winner: Brazil / Runner Up: Czechoslovakia / Third: Chile / Fourth: Yugoslavia

Sweden 1958

Winner: Brazil / Runner Up: Sweden / Third: France / Fourth: Germany FR

Switzerland 1954

Winner: Germany FR / Runner Up: Hungary / Third: Austria / Fourth: Uruguay

Brazil 1950

Winner: Uruguay / Runner Up: Brazil / Third: Sweden / Fourth: Spain

France 1938

Winner: Italy / Runner Up: Hungary / Third: Brazil / Fourth: Sweden

Italy 1934

Winner: Italy / Runner Up: Czechoslovakia / Third: Germany / Fourth: Austria

Uruguay 1930

Winner: Uruguay / Runner Up: Argentina / Third: USA / Fourth: Yugoslavia

References:

worldcup2010southafrica

fifa