Official host city for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM
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| Soccer City: history |
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Formally known as FNB Stadium, Soccer City was built in 1987 and had
distinctive blue and white plastic bucket seats for 80 000 people. A
two-metre wide "moat" ran around the entire field to protect players
from pitch invasion by spectators. 
The old stadium, June 2004
The first football game to be played at the massive stadium was appropriately a Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, two of the most popular teams in Johannesburg and South Africa. Subsequently, FNB Stadium staged some of the most memorable football matches in the country, hosting numerous cup finals and charity matches. It will definitely be remembered for the die-hard Chiefs fans in their black and gold colours and the Pirates fans in their black and white, making a din with their vuvuzelas in the bowl shaped stadium. It was also host of the finals of the African Cup of Nations in February 2006, when the South African national football team, affectionately known as Bafana Bafana, beat Tunisia 2-0. 
Work carries on at Soccer City, July 2008
Besides being the premier venue for football matches, the stadium will be remembered for the mass rally held in 1990 to welcome the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. About 100 000 people swarmed the stadium to hear Mandela call for a unified South Africa. Three years later, in 1993, after South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani was assassinated, more than 80 000 mourners gathered at FNB Stadium to pay their last respects to a man who “spent his life fighting for freedom, democracy and justice”. Some religious groups have also made their mark on the history of the stadium, with the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God holding big New Year’s vigils at the stadium. One of South Africa’s most popular churches, the Zion Christian Church, or ZCC, has also held colourful church ceremonies for its members at the stadium.
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Joburg speaks out
Jozi residents talk about their city, the 2010 build-up, their favourite places.
Click here