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With just some 90 days to go the 2010 Football World Cup, sporting fans around the globe are anticipating the world’s greatest sporting showcase. The tournament hosted for the first time in Africa is expected to be a spectacle of culture, showmanship and a landmark occasion for both African and world sport. Fans from all corners of the globe will converge on South Africa, in the hope of cheering on their side to the final.

Massive public investment

Guests can expect a unique blend of African hospitality and western modernity and comfort. The country, and its major host cities Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban have in recent years undertaken the massive task of upgrading facilities, stadiums and transport systems to accommodate the influx of an expected 500 000 foreign visitors over the six week tournament. New stadiums, purpose built for the 2010 Football World Cup have been built – Soccer City in Johannesburg inspired by the bowl-shape of the African calabash will host the final and 94,700 fans on the 11 July.

Cape Town, widely believed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, has a spectacular addition in the Cape Town (Green Point) stadium. This modern and sleek European based ‘canvas-facade’ sealed 70,000 seater would be equally at home in major European city. Guests based in the southern tip of the country will be able to catch the on-field action all the way up to the semi-final draw. Despite being winter, over the interior of the country the weather will be fine and dry, so be sure to bring sunglasses and sunscreen if you’re making your way south for the Cup.

Culture and comfort combined

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has ensured the public and foreign partners that every measure will be taken to ensure a successful and enjoyable 2010 World Cup tournament. Transport links from airports, and within the city, will ferry players, teams and guests to the matches. Parks for fans will be in place to bring the action to thousands of fans via giant screen TVs.

Host cities throughout the country have also gone through a tremendous process of maintenance, upgrading and preparation of public areas, amenities and facilities. Many South Africans are leasing their properties, apartments and villas to guests, with services and travel arrangements all inclusive in these hospitality packages over the tournament. Prices for these packages range from the affordable to luxurious. Owners asking as much as £22 000 a week for penthouse arrangements in the exclusive suburbs of Camps Bay, Clifton and Sandton.

Exciting soccer action

The World Cup 2010 action promises to be as exciting as ever, with relative minnows taking on the giants off the football world. Favourites include Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany – support your team all the way to the final! The big question is, can the local side Bafana Bafana, led by coach Carlos Parreira, stage a near miraculous effort and go well past the group stages. With the support of the local fans, as passionate as any of the dominant football playing nations of the world surprise results could be on the cards. Surely this African spectacle will prove to be a melting pot of passion, culture and celebration. Viva Africa! Viva 2010!

With the 2010 World Cup being less than 90 days away, excitement surrounding the tournament is reaching fever pitch. With England having a favourable draw, this may finally be the time the 44-year drought gets broken, with fans worldwide rushing in at the last minute to snap up the remaining tickets.

Fifa’s official ticketing procedure

From Fifa’s official ticketing site, 2010 World Cup tickets have been sold in phases. The first three phases are now complete, with the fourth phase, having been started on 9 February, currently in progress. Tickets in this phase are available on a first come first serve basis, with this phase closing on 7 April, and the final phase starting on 15 April until the end of the tournament.

Ticket prices

The 2010 World Cup tickets are available in a range of pricing, depending on where you’re seated in the stadium, and which stage in the tournament games are being attended in. Tickets for the opening match are in the £120-£270 range. Group stage matches will cost between £48 and£97. The second rounds tickets are priced at £60-£120. Quarter-finals tickets start at £90 and top off at £181. And, finally, tickets for the semis are in the £151-£362 range with the finals, the most expensive match, costing between £241 and £543.

Football mania

While the lucky few who can go abroad snap up the remaining 2010 World Cup tickets, homebound fans have many options for viewing the football with unprecedented clarity. Freeview HD has been rolled out into many homes across the United Kingdom, with a large part of the marketing campaign to sell the necessary set-top boxes and HD TVs being centered around football. London is set to be the location of one of Fifa’s many global fan parks, and pubs nationwide are expecting fans to pack themselves in to make the experience as sociable as possible.