South Africa Host the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament

Throughout the years of apartheid soccer gave the people of South Africa hope and a since of excitement when there was little to be excited about. Soccer withstood apartheid,

With the first non-white soccer association being formed in 1903 (SA Indian Football Association) the SA Bantu Football Association was formed in 1933 and the SA Colored Football Association in 1936. After official Apartheid laws went into effect in 1948 these teams were denied funding and facilities yet they continued to play amongst themselves. On December 8, 1991 (following the fall of apartheid in 1990) the South African Football Association was formed on non-racial principles.

Soccer is the most popular sport in South Africa with a victory for a national team considered a victory for the country. On the day of his inauguration in 1994 Nelson Mandela left the official celebration to attend a soccer game between South Africa and Zambia. He was introduced to both teams during the half time break. In July 2007 thousands attended a game that was organized by FIFA to celebrate his 89th birthday at Newlands Stadium.

Now nine South African cities are gearing up to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament for the first time ever. The tournament will be held in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg and Pretoria. South Africa will renovate 5 existing stadiums and build 5 new stadiums in preparation for the most important event in international soccer. You can see the 10 stadiums by clicking here.

The history of the tournament dates back to 1930 with teams from Africa participating since 1934.Cameroon's upset of Argentina in the 1990 world cup finals brought Africa onto the world stage of soccer. Now the time has come for South Africa to host the game they have loved for so long. With an estimated 2.7 million spectators and an additional 28 billion watching on television when the finals are shown the eyes of the world will truly be on South Africa.