Nematandani suggested the Bafana Bafana name, which SAFA uses on much of its official literature and is the popular term in South Africa for the national team, would have to be changed despite being “a national asset.”

FIFA.com welcomed three times more unique users than in 2006, serving pages to 150 million people over the course of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

The Spaniards win 1-nil over the Neds. Spain is on top of the football world for the first time.

After performing at the kick-off concert for this FIFA World Cup™, Shakira will also contribute to Final day in South Africa  on 11 July when she sings the official tournament anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), before the players of Netherlands and Spain take the field at Soccer City.

The [...]

This year will be a lot of first for the FIFA World Cup: It’s the first time the competition is being played on African soil; And the first time both teams will compete against each other for the World coveted Cup

The 2010 World Cup Semi-finals are set in South Africa – Uruguay vs. Netherlands on Tuesday, July 6th in Cape Town; Germany vs. Spain on Wednesday, July 7th in Durban.

Now, if Algeria beats the United States on Wednesday in its last group game, it has a chance of reaching the second round for the first time in its history.

It was unclear whether Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was going to start on Sunday at Soccer City Stadium, but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson hinted the Chelsea striker could be in the starting lineup.

PRETORIA, South Africa _ A Nigerian man has been sentenced to three years in prison by a World Cup-dedicated court in South Africa for being in unlawful possession of 30 match tickets.
Police said Kunle Benjamin was sentenced on Wednesday after he “could not give a satisfactory explanation” why he had the tickets in his possession.
Benjamin [...]

he match at the sellout 64,100 Green Point Stadium had few of the thrills and drama of the 1-1 opener between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City, but the result left all four teams tied with one point.

And for one stretch, the home fans were in utter delirium. The level of bedlam and euphoria somehow ratcheted to a higher level when Siphiwe Tshabalala gave South Africa a 1-0 lead with a stylish goal in the 55th minute. Mexico’s tying goal, 24 minutes later, subdued the noise only briefly.

Signs outside the U.S. hotel warn: “ELEPHANTS COME CLOSE TO OUR FENCE KEEP A DISTANCE OF 30 METERS AND PLEASE BE QUIET

All Times EDT
FIRST ROUND
Friday, June 11
At Johannesburg, Soccer City
South Africa vs. Mexico, 10 a.m. (ESPN)
At Cape Town, South Africa
Uruguay vs. France, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, June 12
At Port Elizabeth, South Africa
South Korea vs. Greece, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN)
At Johannesburg, Ellis Park
Argentina vs. Nigeria, 10 a.m. (ESPN)
At Rustenburg, South Africa
England vs. United States, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Sunday, June 13
At [...]

The ball is called Jabulani, which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu, but not many are celebrating it so far. It’s hard to find a player who is happy with it, and those who don’t like it are not saving adjectives to describe their feelings.

The skit on the the program “Despierta America” was a parody of the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament. It showed characters in Afro wigs clutching spears and dancing to faux jungle music.