FIFA World Cup 2010, Update & Play Off Results

South Africa 2010-Play Offs,Volunteers, New Airport, Seeded Teams

Oct 14, 2009

Play off Results November - Russia,Slovenia, France, Ireland, Portugal,Bosnia, Greece, Ukraine. Update for Fans going to South Africa & List Countries Going to World Cup

The following is a brief discussion of the play offs and other updates relative to the Football World Cup in South Africa. On 19 October 2009 FIFA drew the teams for Europe that will play off in November for the remaining four European tickets to the World Cup.

Play Offs, Europe, Dates and Teams, FIFA World Cup 2010

In the European Group, the nine section winners are guaranteed a place at the World Cup 2010, with the eight best runners up competing in two legged play offs for four available places.

Play Off, Rest of World - Dates and Teams, FIFA World Cup 2010

The play off dates for qualification for the World Cup have been confirmed for 14 and 18 November 2009.

A two legged play off will select a further team for qualification from either Asia or Oceania. The leading team in Oceania, New Zealand will meet Bahrain to decide who will take the place in South Africa. The two legged play off will take place on 14 and 18 November. The overall winner of the two matches will receive the ticket to the World Cup.

New Zealand Qualified

There will be a play off between Costa Rica, the 4th ranked team in the North American group and Uruguay, the 5th ranked team in the South American group. This will again be a two legged play off and will take place on 14 and 18 November 2009.

Uruguay Qualifed

Volunteers for FIFA World Cup 2010

Almost 70,000 people worldwide have volunteered to help during the Football World Cup next year. Although South Africans were the largest volunteer numbers, the next three highest volunteer nations have been:

As Germany had less than 50,000 offers of volunteers for the World Cup, it is already obvious that South Africa will be a popular World Cup venue. The Organising Committee are now screening all volunteer applicants and will start telephone interviews for overseas applicants in December 2009.

Updates for Fans Travelling to South Africa for World Cup 2010

A recent article in The Telegraph (to view full article, link to world cup south africa site below) highlighted that some soccer fans visiting South Africa are almost certain to die. Whilst this article may have upset South African sensibilities with its insensitive headline, it is a fact that parts of South Africa are extremely dangerous.

Although an additional 30,000 police officers have been drafted in for the World Cup, it will be the case in South Africa, as in any major city in the world, that visitors should be sensible. Indeed, recent South African statistics do indicate that the murder rate has fallen for the seventh time in eight years.

The Guardian article also raises the question of whether there will be enough accommodation for fans travelling to South Africa and the logistics involved in travelling to matches.

Football fans with tickets for South Africa are strongly recommended to sort out their hotel and accommodation now and also arrange transport, such as car hire, as soon as possible.

Airports

The new international airport for South Africa, La Mercy in Durban, will open in March 2010, well in time for World Cup travellers. Durban International airport will also continue to operate through 2010 to handle the expected surge in travellers due to the World Cup.

World Cup Matches Direct to Mobile Phones

FIFA plan to issue match updates and results direct to mobile phones and will announce further information on this shortly.

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Teams Already Qualified

The copyright of the article FIFA World Cup 2010, Update & Play Off Results in International Soccer is owned by Dawn Ouedraogo. Permission to republish FIFA World Cup 2010, Update & Play Off Results in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.