4 March 2010
FIFA: South Africa Ready for World Cup
JOHANNESBERG, South Africa
The world football governing body, FIFA, has endorsed South Africa’s preparedness to hold the 2010 world cup, which is set to kick-off in June.
A delegation of senior FIFA organisers, who have just completed a four-day tour of the country, praised ten newly built stadiums in which 32 national teams will compete for the world’s foremost soccer championship event.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said South Africa was firmly on the way to hosting a successful World Cup – the first ever to be hosted on African soil.
Last month, Blatter condemned remarks by Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness, who described the decision to award South Africa the event as "the biggest wrong decision" FIFA had ever made. [ER]