The first batch of tickets for the South Africa 2010 World Cup are now available for purchase. Nearly 700,000 tickets are available for purchase out of a total of just over 3 million tickets for the 64 games between June 11-July 11 next year. Fans have until the end of March to apply for tickets before going into a random draw lottery in April to determine the successful applicants.
"The beginning of this part of the buildup to the World Cup is our irrevocable promise that we make to the people of the world that all is in place and will be ready for 2010," said Organising Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan.
The readiness of South Africa's stadiums and infrastructure has come under scrutiny but FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in December there was "no plan B". Some 20 million applications were received during the first phase of the sales process for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
"All the applicants who correctly apply for tickets between 20 February and 31 March 2009 will have an equal opportunity of obtaining the tickets for which they have applied."
Tickets prices range from $20 to $900.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Saudi Arabia names Peseiro new coach
A poor run of form in World Cup qualifying have led Saudi Arabia to once again change men at the top. Jose Peseiro was named head coach today and will try to lead the team back into contention for a berth at South Africa 2010. The 48 yr old becomes Saudi Arabia's 20th coach since 1994.
Former coach Nasser Al Johar resigned last week after losing 1-0 to North Korea put the Saudis 4th in the five team Asia Group 2. The top two teams will advance to World Cup 2010. South Korea and North Korea currently hold the top two spots with Iran third. Four matches remain with Saudi Arabia needing to make up three points in the standings. A loss in next month's match in Iran would almost put an end to Saudi hopes.
Former coach Nasser Al Johar resigned last week after losing 1-0 to North Korea put the Saudis 4th in the five team Asia Group 2. The top two teams will advance to World Cup 2010. South Korea and North Korea currently hold the top two spots with Iran third. Four matches remain with Saudi Arabia needing to make up three points in the standings. A loss in next month's match in Iran would almost put an end to Saudi hopes.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Mexico Standing by Sven-Goran Ericksson
Despite the run of poor form and last night's 2-0 loss to rivals USA, the Mexico Soccer Federation is standing by Sven-Goran Ericksson as their coach.
"There's total support for Eriksson because we have a commitment with him to get to South Africa and we are going to be there," said Justino Compean, president of the Mexican Football Federation.
Mexico only has 1 win in their last 7 matches, including four straight losses away from Mexico. The next World Cup qualifier is immensely important and quite difficult as Mexico faces another CONCACAF favourite Costa Rica. A loss or even a draw would throw Mexico's qualification into serious jeopardy.
"There's total support for Eriksson because we have a commitment with him to get to South Africa and we are going to be there," said Justino Compean, president of the Mexican Football Federation.
Mexico only has 1 win in their last 7 matches, including four straight losses away from Mexico. The next World Cup qualifier is immensely important and quite difficult as Mexico faces another CONCACAF favourite Costa Rica. A loss or even a draw would throw Mexico's qualification into serious jeopardy.
CONCACAF Final Round Qualifying Opens
The final round of CONCACAF World Cup 2010 qualifying kicked off last night with all six teams in action. The top three finishers will advance to South Africa while the 4th place team will have a playoff with a South American squad.
The big game on the evening had Mexico travelling to the US to face a strong American squad in Columbus, Ohio a place where Mexico had never won. The weather was difficult with rain before the match and strong winds during the game, but the USA showed its class throughout. A late first half goal from Michael Bradley gave the Americans a halftime lead and a 2nd half red card to Mexico captain Rafa Marquez sealed the result. A late 2nd half goal from Michael Bradley just put an exclamation point on the US victory.
In Costa Rica, another favorite took care of business at home as Costa Rica defeated Honduras 2-0 behind a pair of goals from Andy Furtado. Both goals came just after halftime as Costa Rica took control of the game.
The last game in the group was a stunner as Trinidad looked like they were going to grab a vital road win at El Salvador leading 2-0 with less than 15 minutes remaining. El Salvador made a furious rally scoring 2 goals at the death to salvage a 2-2 draw.
The next round shows the US heading to El Salvador and Trinidad hosting Honduras while the marquee matchup has Costa Rica travelling to Mexico.
The big game on the evening had Mexico travelling to the US to face a strong American squad in Columbus, Ohio a place where Mexico had never won. The weather was difficult with rain before the match and strong winds during the game, but the USA showed its class throughout. A late first half goal from Michael Bradley gave the Americans a halftime lead and a 2nd half red card to Mexico captain Rafa Marquez sealed the result. A late 2nd half goal from Michael Bradley just put an exclamation point on the US victory.
In Costa Rica, another favorite took care of business at home as Costa Rica defeated Honduras 2-0 behind a pair of goals from Andy Furtado. Both goals came just after halftime as Costa Rica took control of the game.
The last game in the group was a stunner as Trinidad looked like they were going to grab a vital road win at El Salvador leading 2-0 with less than 15 minutes remaining. El Salvador made a furious rally scoring 2 goals at the death to salvage a 2-2 draw.
The next round shows the US heading to El Salvador and Trinidad hosting Honduras while the marquee matchup has Costa Rica travelling to Mexico.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Spain 2 England 0, European Champs too strong
David Beckham tied the England record for national team appearances, but that was about all England had to show for its trip to Spain to face the European champions. Xavi a class above anyone else on the pitch and Spain were just too good and too effective in too many areas for the visitors.
David Villa opened the scoring in the 36th minute as he beat Jagielka and then held off John Terry before sliding the ball past David James for the opening goal.
Beckham came on at halftime, but it was Spain and Xavi that would have the last say. A Xavi free kick found Fernando Llorente for the 2nd goal in the 82nd minute. England now heads home and will next play a friendly with Slovakia before facing off with Ukraine at Wembley.
David Villa opened the scoring in the 36th minute as he beat Jagielka and then held off John Terry before sliding the ball past David James for the opening goal.
Beckham came on at halftime, but it was Spain and Xavi that would have the last say. A Xavi free kick found Fernando Llorente for the 2nd goal in the 82nd minute. England now heads home and will next play a friendly with Slovakia before facing off with Ukraine at Wembley.
South Africa falls to Chile 2-0 in friendly
The 2010 World Cup hosts were exposed in a 2-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Chile on Wednesday. Chile played with pace and pressured the South Africans into mistake after mistake. At the end of the first half the pressure paid off as a poor clearance allowed Jorge Valdivia to blast a shot from the edge of the 18 for the 1-0 Chile halftime lead.
The second half was much of the same. Alexis Sanchez notched the second goal on 67 minutes as he drifted from the wing to the middle before firing the shot into the net.
The only competition South Africa has faced over the last year were African sides and the stepup in competition clearly troubled South Africa.
The second half was much of the same. Alexis Sanchez notched the second goal on 67 minutes as he drifted from the wing to the middle before firing the shot into the net.
The only competition South Africa has faced over the last year were African sides and the stepup in competition clearly troubled South Africa.
Asian Qualifying: Draws rule the day
Draws were the rule of the day in the latest round of Asian qualifying for World Cup 2010. Australia earned a 0-0 draw at Japan to keep themselves on top of Group 1. Both teams are comfortably ahead in their efforts to qualify. The top two teams in each group will make it to South Africa 2010. Bahrain won at Uzbekhistan to keep its hopes alive of catching Australia or Japan.
Group 1 - Australia 9, Japan 8, Bahrain 4
Group 2 remains tight as Iran and South Korea played to a 1-1 draw in Iran. The important draw keeps South Korea top the group. Meanwhile, North Korea jumped to second with a grabbing a home win over Saudi Arabia 1-0. The North is trying to make their first World Cup since 1966. The two Korea sides face off in the next round of play with the winner putting a big foot forward to qualifying.
Group 2 - South Korea 8, North Korea 7, Iran 6
Group 1 - Australia 9, Japan 8, Bahrain 4
Group 2 remains tight as Iran and South Korea played to a 1-1 draw in Iran. The important draw keeps South Korea top the group. Meanwhile, North Korea jumped to second with a grabbing a home win over Saudi Arabia 1-0. The North is trying to make their first World Cup since 1966. The two Korea sides face off in the next round of play with the winner putting a big foot forward to qualifying.
Group 2 - South Korea 8, North Korea 7, Iran 6
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Beckham in England squad to face Spain
David Beckham has been named to the England squad which will play in Spain on Wednesday. Beckham will gain his 108th cap for England and tie the Bobby Moore's England record for national team appearances. His quality play for AC Milan in Italy of late earned Beckham the callup.
Also named to the England squad were:
Goalkeepers: Green (West Ham), Hart (Man City), James (Portsmouth).
Defenders: Bridge (Man City), A Cole (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), Jagielka (Everton), G Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), L Young (Villa).
Midfielders: Beckham (LA Galaxy), Barry (Villa), Carrick (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Villa), Wright-Phillips (Man City), A Young (Villa).
Forwards: Agbonlahor (Villa), C Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Portsmouth), Heskey (Villa).
Also named to the England squad were:
Goalkeepers: Green (West Ham), Hart (Man City), James (Portsmouth).
Defenders: Bridge (Man City), A Cole (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), Jagielka (Everton), G Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), L Young (Villa).
Midfielders: Beckham (LA Galaxy), Barry (Villa), Carrick (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Villa), Wright-Phillips (Man City), A Young (Villa).
Forwards: Agbonlahor (Villa), C Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Portsmouth), Heskey (Villa).
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
First Stadium for 2010 World Cup Ready to Open
The first of ten new or refurbished stadiums for the 2010 South Africa World Cup is ready to open. The Pretoria Stadium Loftus Versfeld will be unveiled as it hosts a South African Premier Soccer League match on this weekend. The stadium has received a new roof and has been expanded to a capacity of 50,000 fans.
The Pretoria Stadium, first built in 1906, is also one of four stadiums to be used for the Confederations Cup to be held in June. The Confederations Cup is considered a test run for the 2010 World Cup and will feature world powers such as Brazil and Italy.
Renovations at the other three venues, Ellis Park in Johannesburg and stadiums in Bloemfontein and Rustenburg, were supposed to be completed last year but are still weeks away from being finished. The six other 2010 World Cup stadiums are due to be completed by the end of 2009.
The Pretoria Stadium, first built in 1906, is also one of four stadiums to be used for the Confederations Cup to be held in June. The Confederations Cup is considered a test run for the 2010 World Cup and will feature world powers such as Brazil and Italy.
Renovations at the other three venues, Ellis Park in Johannesburg and stadiums in Bloemfontein and Rustenburg, were supposed to be completed last year but are still weeks away from being finished. The six other 2010 World Cup stadiums are due to be completed by the end of 2009.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
China not in running for 2018 or 2022 World Cups
After such a successful hosting of the Beijing Olympics and the 2007 women's World Cup finals, China was expected to announce its interest in bidding for the World Cup tournaments before the FIFA deadline. Instead, China has decided against making bids to host the prestigous soccer event.
"In China, the decision of whether to bid for an international sports event like the World Cup is decided by the government ... the possibility of bidding for the World Cup is zero," Beijing Youth Daily quoted an unnamed official at the Chinese Football Association (CFA) as saying.
England, Japan, Qatar, Mexico, Australia, Russia and the United States have declared themselves in the running for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals. The decision will be announced in December next year.
"In China, the decision of whether to bid for an international sports event like the World Cup is decided by the government ... the possibility of bidding for the World Cup is zero," Beijing Youth Daily quoted an unnamed official at the Chinese Football Association (CFA) as saying.
England, Japan, Qatar, Mexico, Australia, Russia and the United States have declared themselves in the running for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals. The decision will be announced in December next year.
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