South Africa’s World Cup Stadiums

May 19th, 2010 | by: Daryl | View Comments

We’ve been focusing a lot on the teams and players of World Cup 2010. So now it’s time to take a look at the World Cup 2010 stadiums (or stadia, if you prefer). A total of 10 different stadiums will be used for World Cup 2010, spread across nine different cities (Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, gets two) and we’ve got an image and a bit of info about each one for you below.

This isn’t really a guide to the World Cup stadiums. More of an overview. But it’s definitely worth reading, if only to learn who built Royal Bafokeng Stadium and where they got the money from.

Green Point Stadium, Capetown

Also known as Cape Town Stadium, and featuring views of both the sea and the mountains. So if the football gets dull, you can look at those instead. Green Point Stadium is also the stadium closest to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent most of his 27 years as a prisoner. This newly built stadium will host five group games, one second round game, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Capacity: 66,005.

Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

Named after Moses Mabhida, but also known as Durban Stadium. The central arch starts out as two legs which merge together to represent South African unity. Which is nice. The newly built stadium will host five group matches, one second round match and one semi-final. Capacity: 69,957.

Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Ellis Park was opened as a rugby stadium in 1928, and was where the South Africa rugby team famously won the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Watch Invictus. Ellis Park Stadium has been upgraded for World Cup 2010, and will host five group matches, one second round game and a quarterfinal. Capacity: 61,639.

Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

This is South Africa’s World Cup center piece. Originally known as the FNB Stadium, but now known as Soccer City after a major upgrade. The design of the stadium is inspired by an African pot known as a calabash, and will look fantastic at night (see above). This is where South Africa won their first and so far only Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. Soccer City will host five group games (including the opener between South Africa and Mexico), one second round game, one quarter-final and finally the World Cup final itself on July 11th. Capacity: 94,700 or 88,460, depending on who you ask. Either way, it’s massive.

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Free State Stadium was built for the 1995 Rugby World Cup and is currently the home of two rugby union teams, plus the Bloemfontein Celtics football team. Free State Stadium will host five group games and one round of 16 game. Capacity: 45,058

Port Elizabeth Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay

The roof of Port Elizabeth Stadium is designed to look like petals, which has apparently led to it being nicknamed “The Sunflower”. Which I like. Stadiums should definitely have nicknames. Also, don’t be fooled by the name, this stadium overlooks not a port or a bay, but actually a lake. Which is much more pleasant. Port Elizabeth Stadium will host five group games, one second round game, one quarter-final, and the third place playoff. Capacity: 46,082

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Arguably the hardest stadium to pronounce. But worth making the effort to do so. According to FIFA: “Mbombela is siSwati (one of the 11 official languages in South Africa) and literally means ‘many people together in a small space’.” Now that’s a good name for a stadium. Mbombela Stadium has also been nicknamed “The Giraffe Stadium”, because the 18 roof supports have been designed to look like the long necked animals, who inhabit the nearby Kruger National Park. Mbombela Stadium will host four group games and no knockout games. Which is a shame, because I love both the name and the nicname. Capacity: 43,589.

Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Named after the late (and somewhat controversial) anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Mokaba, who was from the area, the stadium design is inspired by the Baobab tree, with big trunk-like structures at each corner. Peter Mokaba Stadium will host four group games. Capacity: 45,264.

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace (to give the stadium its full name) is named after the Royal Bafokeng people who in 1999 gained the legal right to 20% royalties from the platinum-rich rock on their land. Using this new source of income the Royal Bafokeng Nation built the stadium in 1999 (they apparently don’t mess around when it comes to making money spending decisions) and still own and operate the stadium, which was recently upgraded for World Cup 2010. Genuinely fascinating stuff. Royal Bafokeng Stadium will host five group games and one second round game. Capacity: 44,530.

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

This is an old school stadium, having been built way back in 1906 to seat just 2,000 people, and constantly upgraded ever since. For the 2010 World Cup Loftus Versfeld Stadium will host five group games and one second round match. Capacity: 49,365.