12 October 2009
The United States, Cote d’Ivoire, Germany, Denmark, Serbia, Mexico, Italy and Chile all won their qualifying matches at the weekend, successfully securing their places at the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa™.
They join Brazil, Ghana, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, England, North Korea, South Korea, Australia and Japan, who have already booked their spots for football’s showpiece event.
This brings the number of qualifiers to date to 19 – including hosts South Africa, who qualify automatically – leaving only 13 positions to make up the 32 teams that will contest the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
“We welcome these teams to South Africa next year,” Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the South Africa 2010 Organising Committee (OC), said in a statement on Monday. “There might only be one winner at the end of the tournament, but all 32 teams can be guaranteed that they will be part of the greatest World Cup ever.
“The stadiums are almost complete, and we are applying the finishing touches. We will be ready to welcome the world in 2010,” Jordaan said.
Third African qualifier
Cote d’Ivoire drew with Malawi to gain their qualification on Saturday. The country follows Ghana and hosts South Africa as the third African team to qualify for 2010.
“It is an honour to welcome a team such as Cote d’Ivoire to South Africa next year,” Jordaan said. “They have proved themselves to be a strong football team and are one of the giants of African football.
“Their inclusion in the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a great benefit to the tournament and to African football.”
Previous hosts Germany beat Russia 1-0 in Moscow to secure their 2010 spot.
“Having participated in almost every World Cup and being the host of the last tournament, it is a great honour to be able to host Germany next year in our country,” Jordaan said.
“They are strong contenders for the title, and will be a great addition to the world-class lineup of teams coming over for 2010.”
Obama’s boys on the way
With Americans having purchased the highest number of World Cup tickets outside of South Africa so far – totalling 82 603 – the qualification of the USA, finalists in the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup, is significant.
“The USA has already enjoyed success playing in some of the stadiums that will host the World Cup next year,” Jordaan said. “Now that their team has confirmed their place in the tournament, I am sure we can expect a spike in the number of people from the USA coming over to South Africa.”
Over the next month the rest of the World Cup hopefuls will be battling it out for a position among the 32 World Cup participants.
On 4 December, all 32 of the qualified teams will arrive in Cape Town for the Final Draw which will see them placed into their groups for the tournament.
Source: BuaNews
