For the first time in the history of soccer, the World Cup will be held in Africa.
African countries have showed substantial growth in this sport beginning in 1986.

The 1986 World Cup held in Mexico saw the first African country play a high energy/high skilled soccer and that’s when the world started noticing their talents. The surprising Morocco exhibited great soccer in rout to finishing first in their group, ahead of european power houses England and Portugal, along with Poland. The 1986 World Cup became famous to most people by “the hand of god” goal by the argentinian Maradona against England in the quarterfinals.
But to FIFA officials, this World Cup marked the coming of the African nations.

This was not a fad, in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Cameroon was the surprise of the tournament, and what a surprise it was. The very first game of the cup, defending champion Argentina played Cameroon in front of the whole world, and the african nation beat Maradona and the great argentinias 1-0, this win basically liberated the whole african continent into a soccer mania.

Cameroon went on to make it into the quarterfinals where they lost to England, but it was a great run nonetheless. From this point on, the whole world knew about african soccer and their potential, and the following World Cups prove that the africans were a force to deal with. The following World Cup in the United States in 1994, another african nation stood tall. Nigeria ended up its group in first place ahead of Argentina and Bulgaria, later losing to Italy in the round of 16. But once again Africa stood tall.

In the World Cup in France in 1998, FIFA decided to increase the number of teams into the tournament from 24 to 32. This decision had a positive effect on those up and coming nations such as in Africa, Central America and Asia. For Africa it meant a chance to increase their number of teams into the cup and cement the notion that they are no longer up and comers. Africa managed to send 4 teams to the cup and once again played a very competitive soccer. This cup was the first one for unknown South Africa, finishing third in their group. Nigeria stoodout again finishing first in their group ahead of Spain, Paraguay and Bulgaria.

Two first place group finishes for Nigeria, and the respect ran around the world. So much so, that after this World Cup, big time european teams such as those in England (Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool), Spain (Real Madrid, Barcelona) and Italy(Inter Milan, Juventus, Milan) and others, were signing african players. This World Cup marks a great age in african soccer history, the emigration of their players was constant after 1998. Players from, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Togo and Egypt were being sold at expensive transfer fees to these european clubs. These players proved that they could compete day in and day out at a high level.

In 2002 in Korean/Japan, Africa sent the most teams ever, 5. Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia. Senegal was the only team to make out of the group stage, all the way to the quarterfinals, losing a heartbreaker to Turkey 0-1.
The last Cup in Germany in 2006, Africa once again sent 5 teams, Ivory Coast, Angola, Ghana, Togo and Tunisia. Ghana made it to the round of 16 losing to world class Brazil 3-0.

This recount of the resurgence of African soccer leads us to where we are know. Awaiting a World Cup in Africa for the first time. South Africa will certainly be a great host and there will be a great atmosphere in every venue. FIFA dreamed of this World Cup in a continent where soccer has gotten better and better during the past 22 years. Nigeria has been crowned world champion in every level of national team competition except the major World Cup. Experts say a country from Africa can win the cup at any time, their soccer is ready to excel and compete with the other powerful national teams. With the backing of the whole continent, in 2010 we can be a part of a cinderella story in soccer, and the welcoming of an African nation to the top. Wouldn’t it be the end of a great story?

Qualifying to the World Cup

World Cup Qualifying games are going on right now throughout the world.
Here is the breakdown of teams per continent who are heading to the cup, a total of only 32 lucky nations out of hundreds get to be part of this
major event.

· The host nation automatically gets an invitation to the World Cup.

· In Europe, there are 9 groups, the teams play each other twice within their group and the 9 first place finishers will make it into the cup.

· The next 8 best finishers will go into a two legged playoff to qualify. A total of 13 teams from Europe make it to the World Cup.

· In Africa, there are 12 groups, the first place and the 8 best second place finishers advance into the next round.
The next round will be played round robin and the top 5 finishers make it into the World Cup, joining South Africa as the African representatives.

· Asia, has this similar format. There are two groups of five teams playing each other in the group twice, home and away, the top two finishers in each group makes it to the World Cup, the 3rd place finishers will go into a playoff to see who will face the team from Oceania for a two game elimination. The winner will go on as well to the Cup.

· Concacaf has 4 groups of 4 teams, each team plays its group counterpart twice, the top 2 finishers from each group makes it to the 6 team “hexagonal”, where they play each other twice. The top 3 finishers makes it automatically to the World Cup, the fourth place faces the fifth place from South America for a two game playoff. The winner will also make it into the cup.

· South America, all 10 nations play each other twice, the top 4 automatically get in the cup, the fifth place faces the fourth
place in Concacaf as explained above

This is how countries from each continent makes it into the World Cup. This whole process takes about 2 years. It is very exciting for those countries who has never made it into the cup. The World Cup is the biggest sporting event worldwide and for a nation, especially a small nation, it brings exposure to the world like never before. FIFA, the organizing body, provides revenues to to every country for going through the tough qualification process and being a part of the World Cup.
Africa:

* Ghana qualified on 6 September 2009
* Côte d’Ivoire qualified on 10 October 2009
* South Africa automatically qualified as the host country
* Cameroon qualified on 14 November 2009
* Nigeria qualified on 20 June 2009
* Algeria qualified on 18 November 2009

Asia:

* Australia qualified on 6 June 2009
* Japan qualified on 6 June 2009
* Korea Republic qualified on 6 June 2009
* Korea DPR qualified on 17 June 2009

Europe:

* Netherlands qualified on 6 June 2009
* England qualified on 9 September 2009
* Spain qualified on 9 September 2009
* Germany qualified on 10 October 2009
* Italy qualified on 10 October 2009
* Serbia qualified on 10 October 2009
* Denmark qualified on 10 October 2009
* Switzerland qualified on 14 October 2009
* Slovakia qualified on 14 October 2009
* France qualified on 18 November 2009
* Greece qualified on 18 November 2009
* Portugal qualified on 18 November 2009
* Slovenia qualified on 18 November 2009

The Americas:

* Mexico qualified on 10 October 2009
* USA qualified on 10 October 2009
* Honduras qualified on 14 October 2009

South America:

* Brazil qualified on 5 September 2009
* Paraguay qualified on 9 September 2009
* Chile qualified on 10 October 2009
* Argentina qualified on 14 October 2009
* Uruguay qualified on 18 November 2009

Oceania:

* New Zealand qualified on 14 November 2009

The World Cup begins on Friday June 11, 2010. Tickets of America has the packages that fit your needs. Let us know how we can make your
World Cup experience in South Africa an unforgettable one. Call our representatives now for further information