World Cup Stadiums in Gauteng Central

 Situated in the heart of Jozi, Ellis Park Stadium will be the leading venue for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup with the opening ceremony and final game taking place there. And in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ellis Park Stadium is tagged to host five first round matches, a second round match and one of the quarter-finals.

Home turf of the Golden Lions, Super 14, Lions, Orlando Pirates Football Club and also the premier concert event in South Africa, Ellis Park Stadium is also called Coca-Cola Park. In 1995 rugby fever hit the country with South Africa's hosting of the Rugby World Cup, the biggest event on the global rugby calendar.

Ellis Park Stadium was the venue for the Rugby World Cup Final which was played on 24 June 1995. In this spectacular final, New Zealand and South Africa ran onto the field at 14:45 to a thunderous roar of 62 000 spectators and millions of spectators glued in front of their televisions. South Africa won this game 15-12 after extra time was allowed. Ellis Park Stadium and the quality of rugby it represents became the symbol of South Africa's achievement as a nation united.

 The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off here! Home to South African football, Soccer City is the stadium where the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony and the final will take place. South Africa’s national football stadium, Soccer City was built in 1987 and is headquarters to the South African Football Association.

Host to the 1996 African Cup of Nations, Soccer City is South Africa’s prime football venue and it will be the most important venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - the kick-off site for the opening and the final match. The original seating capacity for 80 000 people is currently being enlarged to accommodate 94 700 people for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Along with this, the precinct will have a fully functional transport hub including a railway station. The rail system will serve future industrial, commercial and residential developments planned for the area after the soccer tournament. Besides the rail station, the transport hub will have taxi, bus and rail drop off and pick up points. The total public transport capacity of the hub is projected to be 23 280 an hour.

Why we love it? Soccer City is the main match venue for South Africa’s football squad, Bafana Bafana, as well as the simmering contests between local Soweto club rivals, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Source: www.joburg.org.za