South Africa 2010 World Cup Stadiums Info
Overview, Progress & Capacity Report of All 2010 Soccer Venues
Jun 19, 2009
The South Africa 2010 World Cup will start in Johannesburg on 11th June and the final will be played in the same city on 11th July. Here are the South Africa 2010 World Cup stadiums:
Soccer City Stadium – Johannesburg – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium for Final
•Capacity 94, 700
•Built in 1987, South Africa’s first international football stadium is the largest venue for the 2010 World Cup. Bore witness to the first mass rally after the release of Nelson Mandela. Chosen as the World Cup stadium to host both the opening game and the World Cup final.
• Major upgrades in progress: encircling roof added; new floodlights; capacity increased from 80,000. 92% complete (as of June 2009) according to project director Mike Moody: “The construction is progressing well.......in time for January 2010 completion deadline.”
Ellis Park Stadium – Johannesburg – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 60,000
•First built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium, then demolished and rebuilt in 1982. Named in honour of J.D Ellis, a Johannesburg city councillor. Home ground of Orlando Pirates F.C.
•Some upgrades made to fulfil FIFA requirements for all South Africa 2010 World Cup stadiums.
Moses Mabhida Stadium – Durban – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 70,000
•An all new World Cup stadium built on the site of the old Kings Park Soccer Stadium, demolished in 2006. Sports a similar archway design to the new Wembley Stadium. Named after former General Secretary of the S.A. Communist Party.
•Still in construction but the main body of the stadium is complete: “The focus on this project has now shifted to finishes and fit-out and external work.” (Official Durban 2010 Host City website media release, April 19th 2009.)
Free State Stadium – Bloemfontein – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 45,000
•Originally built in 1952
•Costly upgrades in progress, addition of second tier to western pavilion. Upgrades are 98% complete according to Mangaung 2010 CEO George Mohlakoana (February 2009).
Green Point Stadium – Cape Town – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 70,000
•Another of the new 2010 World Cup stadiums, named after the suburb in which it is located. Built on the site of an older venue of the same name, the scenic Green Point Stadium sits at the foot of Signal Hill a short walk from the coast.
•Construction of this all-seated, all-weather, multipurpose, modern World Cup stadium is set to be completed 14th December 2009.
Mbombela Stadium – Nelspruit – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 40,000
•Newly built and due for completion October 2009 (according to the official FIFA website). Despite worker strikes, progress now looks good. A zebra stripe pattern has been applied to all seating for an extra African feel.
Peter Mokaba Stadium – Polokwane – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 40,000
•Newly built on the site of an existing sports complex. This World Cup stadium is named after Peter Mokaba, a political activist during apartheid and a member of the African National Congress.
•Originally comprised only one main stand and three grass banks, now being rebuilt and enlarged with 20 additional rows of seating added around the entire stadium.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – Port Elizabeth – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium
•Capacity 49,500
•A newly built high-tech World Cup stadium, opened 7th June 2009. First sporting event staged on 16th June 2009 as part of the British Lions rugby tour.
Loftus Versfeld Stadium – Pretoria – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 50,000
•Originally built in 1906 and much renovated since 1977, minimal upgrades have been made to meet FIFA standards for the 2010 World Cup stadiums. Named after Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, said to have established organised sport in Pretoria. Home ground of Sundowns F.C.
Royal Bafokeng Stadium – Rustenburg – South Africa 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium Progress
•Capacity 42,000
•Built in 1999, the stadium is named after the Bafokeng people of the area.
•Minor renovations have been completed to meet World Cup stadium standards.
The World Cup 2010 Quarter finals will be played at Soccer City (Johannesburg), Ellis Park (Johannesburg), Green Point (Cape Town) and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth).
The South Africa World Cup Semi finals will be played at Green Point (Cape Town) and Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban).
The World Cup 2010 Final will be played at Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg.
A FIFA inspection of all South Africa World Cup stadiums in October 2009 was generally pleased with the progress being made.
While waiting for the big event, brush up on World Cup history with the Golden Boot Award winners from the early days of World Cup history, the sixties and seventies and from the 1980s to the present day.
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