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The '''2010 FIFA World Cup''', also branded as '''South Africa 2010''', was the 19th [[FIFA World Cup]], the world championship for [[List of men's national association football teams|men's national]] [[Association football|football]] teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The [[FIFA World Cup hosts#2010 FIFA World Cup|bidding process]] for hosting the tournament finals was open only to African nations. In 2004, the international football federation, [[FIFA]], selected South Africa over Egypt and Morocco to become the first African nation to host the finals.<ref>{{cite news|title=South Africa Is Named Host of 2010 World Cup|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/sports/soccer-south-africa-is-named-host-of-2010-world-cup.html|work=The New York Times|date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

The matches were played in [[#Venues|10 stadiums]] in nine host cities around the country,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sa-venues.com/2010/2010-stadium.htm|title=South Africa 2010 Stadiums|website=Sa-venues.com|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> with the opening and final played at the [[Soccer City]] stadium in South Africa's largest city, [[Johannesburg]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/11/world-cup-final-nelson-mandela|title=Nelson Mandela gives World Cup a dream finale with a wave and a smile|last=Smith|first=David|date=11 July 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/stadiums/soccer-city-johannesburg/6554681/Soccer-City-Stadium-Johannesburg-World-Cup-2010-stadium-guide.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/stadiums/soccer-city-johannesburg/6554681/Soccer-City-Stadium-Johannesburg-World-Cup-2010-stadium-guide.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg: World Cup 2010 stadium guide|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=19 November 2009|access-date=5 December 2017|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Thirty-two teams were selected for participation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2010/m=7/news=south-africa-2010-teams-stories-1272292.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029012645/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2010/m=7/news=south-africa-2010-teams-stories-1272292.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2015|title=South Africa 2010: 32 teams, 32 stories|last=FIFA.com|date=11 July 2010|work=FIFA.com|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> via a [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification|worldwide qualification tournament]] that began in August 2007. In the [[#Group stage|first round]] of the tournament finals, the teams competed in [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] groups of four teams for points, with the top two teams in each group proceeding. These 16 teams advanced to the [[2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|knockout stage]], where three rounds of play decided which teams would participate in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup final|final]].

In the final, [[Spain national football team|Spain]], the [[UEFA Euro 2008|European champions]], defeated third-time losing finalists the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] 1–0 [[after extra time]] to win their first world title. Spain became the eighth nation to win the tournament and the first European nation to win a World Cup hosted outside its home continent: all previous World Cups held outside Europe had been won by South American nations. They are also the first national team since [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]] to win a World Cup after losing a game in the group stage.  As a result of their win, Spain represented the World in the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup]]. Host nation [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] were eliminated in the group stage along with both [[2006 FIFA World Cup final|2006 World Cup finalists]] [[Italy national football team|Italy]] and [[France national football team|France]]. It was the first time that the hosts had been eliminated in the first stage. [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]], with their three draws, were the only undefeated team in the tournament, but they were also eliminated in the group stage.

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==Host selection==
{{Main|FIFA World Cup hosts#2010 FIFA World Cup}}

Africa was chosen as the host for the 2010 World Cup as part of a short-lived rotation policy, abandoned in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://za.mg.co.za/article/2007-10-29-fifa-end-world-cup-rotation-policy|title=FIFA end World Cup Rotation|publisher=Mail & Guardian Online|date=29 October 2007|access-date=20 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720070353/http://za.mg.co.za/article/2007-10-29-fifa-end-world-cup-rotation-policy|archive-date=20 July 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> to rotate the event among football confederations. Five African nations placed bids to host the 2010 World Cup: Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and a joint bid from Libya and Tunisia.

Following the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee not to allow co-hosted tournaments, Tunisia withdrew from the bidding process. The committee also decided not to consider Libya's solo bid as it no longer met all the stipulations laid down in the official ''List of Requirements''.

The winning bid was announced by FIFA president [[Sepp Blatter]] at a media conference on 15 May 2004 in [[Zürich]]; in the first round of voting, South Africa received 14 votes, Morocco received 10 votes and Egypt no votes. South Africa, which had narrowly [[2006 FIFA World Cup#Host selection|failed to win the right to host the 2006 event]], was thus awarded the right to host the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/germany2006/news/newsid=25395.html |title=Host nation of 2010 FIFA World Cup – South Africa |date=15 May 2004 |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=8 January 2006 }}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Campaigning for South Africa to be granted host status, [[Nelson Mandela]] had previously spoken of the importance of football in his life, stating that while incarcerated in [[Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island|Robben Island]] prison playing football "made us feel alive and triumphant despite the situation we found ourselves in".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/23851559 "Nelson Mandela: How sport helped to transform a nation"]. BBC. Retrieved 6 December 2013</ref> With South Africa winning their bid, an emotional Mandela raised the [[FIFA World Cup Trophy]].<ref>[https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/president/news/newsid=881662/ "Blatter presents Mandela with a special FIFA World Cup Trophy"]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402153846/https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/president/news/newsid%3D881662/ |date=2 April 2015 }}. FIFA.com. Retrieved 5 December 2013</ref>

During 2006 and 2007, rumours circulated in various news sources that the 2010 World Cup could be moved to another country.<ref name="harding">{{cite web |first=Luke |last=Harding |title=Doubt over South Africa 2010 |date=12 June 2006 |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1818166,00.html |access-date=29 August 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jermaine |last=Craig |title=Fifa denies SA may lose 2010 World Cup |date=3 July 2006 |work=[[The Star (South Africa)|The Star]] |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=19&art_id=vn20060703014312923C258638&set_id= |access-date=30 August 2006 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060827152341/http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=19&art_id=vn20060703014312923C258638&set_id=| archive-date= 27 August 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> [[Franz Beckenbauer]], [[Horst R. Schmidt]], and, reportedly, some [[FIFA]] executives expressed concern over the planning, organisation, and pace of South Africa's preparations.<ref name="harding"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Beckenbauer issues 2010 warning |date=20 September 2006 |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/5362504.stm |access-date=19 October 2006 }}</ref> FIFA officials repeatedly expressed their confidence in South Africa as host, stating that a contingency plan existed only to cover natural catastrophes, as had been in place at previous FIFA World Cups.<ref name="yoong">{{cite news|first=Sean |last=Yoong |title=FIFA says South Africa 'definitely' will host 2010 World Cup |date=8 May 2007 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=Ah.1PkVLAGTpuoi3rG.VSMgmw7YF?slug=ap-fifa-wcup2010&prov=ap&type=lgns |access-date=15 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080626002544/http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=Ah.1PkVLAGTpuoi3rG.VSMgmw7YF?slug=ap-fifa-wcup2010&prov=ap&type=lgns |archive-date=26 June 2008 }}</ref>

===Bribery and corruption===
On 28 May 2015, media covering the [[2015 FIFA corruption case]] reported that high-ranking officials from the South African bid committee had secured the right to host the World Cup by paying US$10 million in bribes to then-FIFA Vice President [[Jack Warner (football executive)|Jack Warner]] and to other FIFA Executive Committee members.<ref>[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006015957/http://touch.latimes.com/ "South Africa is shaken by FIFA corruption probe"], ''Los Angeles Times'', 28 May 2015.</ref>

On 4 June 2015, FIFA executive [[Chuck Blazer]], having co-operated with the [[FBI]] and the Swiss authorities, confirmed that he and the other members of FIFA's executive committee were bribed in order to promote the South African 1998 and 2010 World Cup bids. Blazer stated, "I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup."<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/sepp-blatter/11647665/Sepp-Blatter-FBI-investigation-live.html Vicki Hodges, Giles Mole, JJ Bull, Luke Brown and Rob Crilly, "Fifa whistleblower Chuck Blazer – bribes accepted for 1998 and 2010 World Cups: as it happened", ''The Telegraph'', 3 June 2015] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115133016/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/sepp-blatter/11647665/Sepp-Blatter-FBI-investigation-live.html |date=15 January 2016 }}. Retrieved 4 June 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/03/fifa-chuck-blazer-bribes-world-cup Owen Gibson, Paul Lewis, "Fifa informant Chuck Blazer: I took bribes over 1998 and 2010 World Cups", ''The Guardian'', 3 June 2015] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411205843/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/03/fifa-chuck-blazer-bribes-world-cup |date=11 April 2016 }}. Retrieved 4 June 2015</ref>

On 6 June 2015, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that [[Morocco]] had actually won the vote, but [[South Africa]] was awarded the tournament instead.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11657442/Fifa-in-crisis-Morocco-won-2010-World-Cup-vote-not-South-Africa.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11657442/Fifa-in-crisis-Morocco-won-2010-World-Cup-vote-not-South-Africa.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Fifa in crisis: 'Morocco won 2010 World Cup vote – not South Africa' | work=The Telegraph | date=6 June 2015 | access-date=7 June 2015 | location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Qualification==
{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification}}
The qualification draw for the 2010 World Cup was held in [[Durban]] on 25 November 2007. As the host nation, [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] qualified automatically for the tournament. As happened in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|previous tournament]], the defending champions were not given an automatic berth, and [[Italy national football team|Italy]] had to participate in qualification. With a pool of entrants comprising 204 of the 208 [[List of men's national association football teams|FIFA national teams]] at the time, the 2010 World Cup shares with the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] the record for most competing nations in a sporting event.

Some controversies arose during the qualifications. In the second leg of the [[2009 Republic of Ireland v France football matches|play-off between France and the Republic of Ireland]], French captain [[Thierry Henry]], unseen by the referee, handled the ball in the lead up to a late goal, which enabled France to qualify ahead of Ireland, sparking widespread comment and debate. FIFA rejected a request from the [[Football Association of Ireland]] to replay the match,<ref name=FIFA20Nov09FIFAStatementOnFAIRequest>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1137489.html |title=FIFA statement on FAI request |publisher=FIFA |date=20 November 2009 |access-date=20 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123062736/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1137489.html |archive-date=23 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Ireland later withdrew a request to be included as an unprecedented 33rd World Cup entrant.<ref name=UKPA02Dec09BlatterApologisesOverComments>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hMVC1s6Pr6WoHBrceHOFXYf4HZRw |title=Blatter apologises over comments |publisher=Press Association |date=2 December 2009 |access-date=3 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206101142/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hMVC1s6Pr6WoHBrceHOFXYf4HZRw |archive-date=6 December 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=IrishTimes02Dec09FAISetsRecordStraight>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2009/1202/1224259931744.html |title=FAI tries to set record straight |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=2 December 2009 |access-date=3 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428232432/http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2009/1202/1224259931744.html |archive-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, FIFA announced a review into the use of technology or extra officials at the highest level, but decided against the widely expected fast-tracking of goal-line referee's assistants for the South African tournament.<ref name=UKPA02Dec09FIFARejectExtraRefs>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jO_FwfnIayPK8z-g_2K2KxWTfpPA |title=FIFA reject extra referees proposal |publisher=Press Association |date=2 December 2009 |access-date=3 December 2009 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5lkKZdcQw?url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jO_FwfnIayPK8z-g_2K2KxWTfpPA |archive-date=3 December 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Watching South Africa & Mexico match at World Cup 2010-06-11 in Soweto 7.jpg|thumb|Supporters watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, with [[vuvuzela]]s.]]
[[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] complained over [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]]'s winning goal in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)#CONCACAF 4th place v CONMEBOL 5th place|CONMEBOL–CONCACAF playoff]],<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/blatter-we-need-goal-line-officials-at-world-cup-1831686.html|title=Blatter: we need goal line officials at World Cup President urges change as Fifa considers Ireland's appeal to be '33rd nation' at finals |last=Harris |first=Nick |date=1 December 2009|work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=5 January 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091205101907/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/blatter-we-need-goal-line-officials-at-world-cup-1831686.html| archive-date= 5 December 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> while Egypt and Algeria's [[2009 Egypt v Algeria football matches|November 2009 matches]] were surrounded by reports of crowd trouble.
On the subject of fair play, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said:
{{blockquote|I appeal to all the players and coaches to observe this fair play. In 2010 we want to prove that football is more than just kicking a ball but has social and cultural value&nbsp;... So we ask the players 'please observe fair play' so they will be an example to the rest of the world.<ref name=BBCSport02Dec09FIFAToInvestigateHenry>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8391388.stm |title=Fifa to investigate Thierry Henry handball |work=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2009 |access-date=3 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203030209/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8391388.stm |archive-date=3 December 2009 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>}}

Slovakia was making its first appearance as an independent nation but had previously been represented as part of the Czechoslovakia team that had last played in the 1990 tournament; North Korea qualified for the first time since 1966; Honduras and New Zealand were both making their first appearances since 1982; Algeria were at the finals for the first time since the 1986 competition; and Greece qualified for the first time since 1994. Serbia also made its first appearance as an independent nation, having previously been present as Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1930, as SFR Yugoslavia from 1950 to 1990, as FR Yugoslavia in 1998 and as Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.

Teams that failed to qualify for this tournament included [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]], which had qualified for the previous four tournaments; [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]] and [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]], both of whom had qualified for the previous three finals; [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]], [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]], [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]], who had qualified for the previous two editions; 2006 quarter-finalists [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] and [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]] semi-finalists [[Russia national football team|Russia]] and [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]]. The highest ranked team not to qualify was Croatia (ranked 10th), while the lowest ranked team that did qualify was North Korea (ranked 105th).

{{as of|2022}}, this was the last time South Africa, New Zealand, North Korea, Paraguay, Slovakia and Slovenia qualified for a FIFA World Cup finals, and the last time Costa Rica, Iran, Belgium, and Croatia (only time) failed to qualify.

===List of qualified teams===
The following 32 teams, shown with final pre-tournament rankings,<ref>Rankings shown are those in May 2010, but the rankings used for selecting the seven non-host seeds were those of October 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20191006015211/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank/id9054/ FIFA]</ref> qualified for the final tournament.
{{col begin}}
{{col-4}}
;[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|AFC]] (4)
* {{fb|AUS}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|JPN}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|PRK}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|KOR|1997}}&nbsp;
;[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|CAF]] (6)
* {{fb|ALG}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|CMR}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|COD}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|GHA}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|NGA}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|RSA}}&nbsp;(hosts)
{{col-4}}
;[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|CONCACAF]] (3)
* {{fb|SLV}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|MEX}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|USA}}&nbsp;
;[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|CONMEBOL]] (5)
* {{fb|ARG}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|BRA}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|CHI}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|PAR|1990}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|URU}}&nbsp;
;[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)|OFC]] (1)
* {{fb|NZL}}&nbsp;(
{{col-4}}
;[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|UEFA]] (13)
* {{fb|AUT}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|BUL}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|DEN}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|ENG}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|FRA}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|GER}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|ITA}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|NED}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|POR}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|ROU}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|SRB}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|SVK}}&nbsp;
* {{fb|ESP}}&nbsp;
{{col-4}}<!-- This map should not be removed as it is shows the status of qualification by failed or not enter-->
{{col end}}

==Preparations==

Five new stadiums were built for the tournament, and five of the existing venues were upgraded. Construction costs were expected to be [[South African rand|R]]8.4&nbsp;billion (just over US$1&nbsp;billion or €950&nbsp;million).<ref>{{cite news |title=SA faces R8.4bn stadium bill |date=1 October 2006 |work=[[News24 (website)|News24]] |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0,,2-9-840_2006517,00.html |access-date=13 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029200023/http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0%2C%2C2-9-840_2006517%2C00.html |archive-date=29 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

South Africa also improved its public transport infrastructure within the host cities, including Johannesburg's [[Gautrain]] and other metro systems, and major road networks were improved.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joburg pursues bus rapid transit system in bid to ease gridlock by 2010 |url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=119725 |work=Engineering News |publisher=Creamer Media |date=2 November 2007 |access-date=2 November 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071102220747/http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=119725| archive-date=2 November 2007| url-status= live}}</ref> In March 2009, [[Danny Jordaan]], the president of the 2010 World Cup organising committee, reported that all stadiums for the tournament were on schedule to be completed within six months.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7966169.stm |title=SA 2010 venues 'ready by October' |date=26 March 2009 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 March 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100806172626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7966169.stm| archive-date=6 August 2010| url-status= live}}</ref>

The country implemented special measures to ensure the safety and security of spectators in accordance with standard FIFA requirements,<ref>{{cite news | title=2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special Measures Act, 2006 | work=Republic of South Africa, Minister of Sport and Recreation – Online Government Gazette No. 28593 | date=10 March 2006 | url=http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/bills/2006/b13-06.pdf | access-date=13 October 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061103065105/http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/bills/2006/b13-06.pdf| archive-date = 3 November 2006}}</ref> including a temporary restriction of flight operation in the airspace surrounding the stadiums.<ref name="sacaa-45-2">{{cite web|url=http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/AIC'S/45-2.pdf |title=Additional Aviation Coordination and Security measures during the 2010 World Cup |date=7 May 2009 |publisher=[[South African Civil Aviation Authority]] |access-date=24 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024123110/http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/AIC%27S/45-2.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2009 }}</ref>

At a ceremony to mark 100 days before the event, FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised the readiness of the country for the event.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.africareview.com/News/SA%20marks%20100%20days%20to%20World%20Cup/-/825442/872036/-/fcqxfuz/-/index.html |title=SA marks 100 days to World Cup |date=2 March 2010 |work=Africa Review |access-date=14 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715092930/http://www.africareview.com/News/SA%20marks%20100%20days%20to%20World%20Cup/-/825442/872036/-/fcqxfuz/-/index.html |archive-date=15 July 2010 }}</ref>

===Construction strike===
On 8 July 2009, 70,000 construction workers<ref>BBC and SABC report 70,000 while the AP, quoting the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, says 11,000</ref> who were working on the new stadiums walked off their jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=659780&sec=world&cc=5901|title=World Cup construction workers strike in SAfrica|date=8 July 2009|work=ESPN Soccernet|agency=Associated Press|access-date=8 July 2009}}</ref> The majority of the workers receive [[South African rand|R]]2500 per month (about [[Pound sterling|£]]192, €224 or US$313), but the unions alleged that some workers were grossly underpaid. A spokesperson for the [[National Union of Mineworkers (South Africa)|National Union of Mineworkers]] said to the [[South African Broadcasting Corporation|SABC]] that the "no work no pay" strike would go on until FIFA assessed penalties on the organisers. Other unions threatened to strike into 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4159f0381c552210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&channelPath=Sport%20%3E%3E%20Soccer|title=NUM members working on 2010 stadiums ready for massive strike action|date=7 July 2009|work=SABC News|publisher=SABC|access-date=8 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901012809/http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4159f0381c552210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&channelPath=Sport%20%3E%3E%20Soccer|archive-date=1 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8140433.stm|title=S Africa strike hits stadium work |date=8 July 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=8 July 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090709012218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8140433.stm| archive-date= 9 July 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> The strike was swiftly resolved and workers were back at work within a week of it starting. There were no further strikes and all stadiums and construction projects were completed in time for the kick off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sa2010.gov.za/en/node/2429|title=2010 construction strike ends|date=15 July 2009|work=Sapa|publisher=South African Government|access-date=1 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008061333/http://www.sa2010.gov.za/en/node/2429|archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>

==Prize money==
The total prize money on offer for the tournament was confirmed by FIFA as US$420&nbsp;million (including payments of US$40&nbsp;million to domestic clubs), a 60 percent increase on the 2006 tournament.<ref name=FIFA03Dec09RecordPrizeMoney>{{cite news |title=FIFA Executive Committee holds historic meeting in Robben Island |url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1143269/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329063326/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1143269/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 March 2013 |work=FIFA.com |publisher=FIFA |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref> Before the tournament, each of the 32 entrants received US$1&nbsp;million for preparation costs. Once at the tournament, the prize money was distributed as follows:<ref name=FIFA03Dec09RecordPrizeMoney/>
* US$8&nbsp;million – To each team eliminated at the [[#Group stage|group stage]] (16 teams) (${{Inflation|US|8|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
* US$9&nbsp;million – To each team eliminated in the [[#Round of 16|round of 16]] (8 teams) (${{Inflation|US|9|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
* US$14&nbsp;million – To each team eliminated in the [[#Quarter-finals|quarter-finals]] (4 teams) (${{Inflation|US|14|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
* US$18&nbsp;million – [[#Third-place play-off|Fourth placed team]] (${{Inflation|US|18|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
* US$20&nbsp;million – [[#Third-place play-off|Third placed team]] (${{Inflation|US|20|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
* US$24&nbsp;million – [[#Final|Runner up]] (${{Inflation|US|24|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
* US$30&nbsp;million – [[#Final|Winner]] (${{Inflation|US|30|2010|r=2}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}} US dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})

In a first for the World Cup, FIFA made payments to the domestic clubs of the players representing their national teams at the tournament. This saw a total of US$40&nbsp;million paid to domestic clubs. This was the result of an agreement reached in 2008 between FIFA and European clubs to disband the [[G-14]] group and drop their claims for compensation dating back to 2005 over the financial cost of injuries sustained to their players while on international duty, such as that from Belgian club [[R. Charleroi S.C.|Charleroi S.C.]] for injury to Morocco's [[Abdelmajid Oulmers]] in a friendly game in 2004, and from English club [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] for an injury to England's [[Michael Owen]] in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]].<ref name="Journal1Mar2007">{{cite news|title=Fifa are adding insult to injury |url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2007/03/01/fifa-are-adding-insult-to-injury-61634-18690847/ |work=[[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper)|The Journal]] |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=3 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901022309/http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2007/03/01/fifa-are-adding-insult-to-injury-61634-18690847/ |archive-date=1 September 2010 }}</ref><ref name=BBC06Sep2005G14FightFifa>{{cite news |title=G14 starts legal fight with Fifa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4219244.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=6 September 2005 |access-date=31 December 2009 }}</ref><ref name=BBC15Feb2008G14Disbanded>{{cite news |title=G-14 football group is disbanded |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7247791.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 February 2008 |access-date=31 December 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080218155708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7247791.stm| archive-date=18 February 2008| url-status= live}}</ref>

==Venues==
{{GeoGroup}}

In 2005, the organisers released a provisional list of 13 venues to be used for the World Cup: [[Bloemfontein]], [[Cape Town]], [[Durban]], [[Johannesburg]] (two venues), [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]], [[Klerksdorp]], [[Nelspruit]], [[Orkney, North West|Orkney]], [[Polokwane]], [[Port Elizabeth]], [[Pretoria]], and [[Rustenburg]]. This was narrowed down to the ten venues<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthSports&Number=944685&fpart=&PHPSESSID=|title=2010 Soccer World Cup Fan Parks & 2010 Host Cities|publisher=Google Earth Community|date=29 October 2007|access-date=1 December 2011|archive-date=2 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602083938/http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthSports&Number=944685&fpart=&PHPSESSID=|url-status=dead}}</ref> that were officially announced by FIFA on 17 March 2006.

The altitude of several venues affected the motion of the ball<ref>{{cite news |title=Altitude will have impact on World Cup ball |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34277552 |work=NBC News |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> and player performance,<ref>{{cite web |title=Altitude training and physical performance for high altitude football |url=http://www.altitude.org/football.php |publisher=Altitude.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715090344/http://www.altitude.org/football.php |archive-date=15 July 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=29 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |date=7 June 2010 |title=World Cup 2010: England's altitude training will be tested against USA |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/07/world-cup-2010-england-altitude-usa |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610193103/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/07/world-cup-2010-england-altitude-usa |archive-date=10 June 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> although FIFA's medical chief downplayed this consideration.<ref>{{cite news |last=Edwards |first=Piers |date=23 February 2010 |title=Fifa medical chief downplays World Cup altitude effect |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8530930.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> Six of the ten venues were over {{convert|1200|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, with the two Johannesburg venues—[[FNB Stadium]] (also known as Soccer City) and [[Ellis Park Stadium]]—the highest at approximately {{convert|1750|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="racingpost">{{cite news |title=Quick guide to the ten World Cup grounds |url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/sport/quick-guide-to-the-grounds/726811/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513065728/http://www.racingpost.com/news/sport/quick-guide-to-the-grounds/726811/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2011 |work=[[Racing Post]] |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="SoccerAmerica">{{cite magazine |title=And the city to avoid... |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/35615/and-the-city-to-avoid.html |magazine=Soccer America |date=3 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601150829/http://www.socceramerica.com/article/35615/and-the-city-to-avoid.html |archive-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>

FNB Stadium, [[Cape Town Stadium]], and [[Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium]] in Port Elizabeth were the most-used venues, each hosting eight matches. Ellis Park Stadium and [[Moses Mabhida Stadium]] in Durban hosted seven matches each, while [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium]] in Pretoria, [[Free State Stadium]] in Bloemfontein and [[Royal Bafokeng Stadium]] in Rustenburg hosted six matches each. [[Peter Mokaba Stadium]] in Polokwane and [[Mbombela Stadium]] in Nelspruit hosted four matches each, but did not host any knockout-stage matches.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!colspan=2| [[Johannesburg]]
!width=25%| [[Cape Town]]
!width=25%| [[Durban]]
|-
| [[FNB Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5007759/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070617120423/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5007759/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 June 2007 |title=Soccer City Stadium – Johannesburg |work=FIFA.com |publisher=FIFA| access-date= 1 December 2011 }}</ref> <br>{{small|'''(Soccer City)'''}}
| [[Ellis Park Stadium]]
| [[Cape Town Stadium]] <br>{{small|'''(Green Point Stadium)'''}}
| [[Moses Mabhida Stadium]] <br>{{small|'''(Durban Stadium)'''}}
|-
| {{small|{{Coord|26|14|5.27|S|27|58|56.47|E|region:ZA_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Soccer City}}}}
| {{small|{{Coord|26|11|51.07|S|28|3|38.76|E|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Ellis Park Stadium}}}}
| {{small|{{Coord|33|54|12.46|S|18|24|40.15|E|region:ZA-WC_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline|name=Cape Town Stadium}}}}
| {{small|{{Coord|29|49|46|S|31|01|49|E|type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline|name=Moses Mabhida Stadium}}}}
|-
| Capacity: '''84,490'''<!--This is the actual capacity for the tournament-->
| Capacity: '''55,686'''
| Capacity: '''64,100'''
| Capacity: '''62,760'''
|-
| [[File:Soccer City Stadium Exterior.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Ellis Park Stadium.jpg|200px]]
| 
| [[File:Moses Mabhida Stadion durban aerial view 1.jpg|200px]]
|-
! [[Pretoria]]
!rowspan=5 colspan=3|{{location map+ |South Africa |float=center |width=375 |places=
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-26.234797 |long=27.982353 |label=[[Johannesburg]]|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-29.829444 |long=31.030278 |label= [[Durban]] |position=top}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-33.903461 |long=18.411153 |label=[[Cape Town]] |position=right}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-25.753333 |long=28.186944 |label=&nbsp; &nbsp; [[Pretoria]] |position=top}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-33.937778 |long=25.598889 |label=[[Port Elizabeth|Port&nbsp;Elizabeth]] |position=right}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-29.117292 |long=26.208847 |label=[[Bloemfontein]] |position=left}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-23.924689 |long=29.468765 |label=[[Polokwane]] |position=top}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-25.5786 |long=27.1607 |label=[[Rustenburg]] |position=left}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-25.46172 |long=30.929689 |label=&nbsp; &nbsp; [[Nelspruit]] |position=top}}}}
|-
| [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium]]
|-
| {{small|{{Coord|25|45|12|S|28|13|22|E|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Loftus Versfeld Stadium}}}}
|-
| Capacity: '''42,858'''
|-
| [[File:Loftus Versfeld Stadium.jpg|200px]]
|-
! [[Port Elizabeth]]
!rowspan=5 colspan=3|Stadiums in Johannesburg{{location map+ |Greater Johannesburg|float=center |caption= |width=375 |places=
{{location map~ |Greater Johannesburg|lat=-26.2348 |long=27.9827 |label=[[Soccer City]]|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |Greater Johannesburg|lat=-26.1975 |long=28.0609 |label= [[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]] |position=top}}}}
|-
| [[Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium]]
|-
| {{small|{{Coord|33|56|16|S|25|35|56|E|region:ZA_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium}}}}
|-
| Capacity: '''42,486'''
|-
| [[File:Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|-
! [[Rustenburg]]
! [[Polokwane]]
! [[Nelspruit]]
! [[Bloemfontein]]
|-
| {{small|{{Coord|-25.5786|27.1607|display=inline|format=dms|type:landmark_scale:3000|name=Royal Bafokeng Stadium}}}}
| {{small|{{Coord|23.924689|S|29.468765|E|format=dms|region:ZA_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline|name=Peter Mokaba Stadium}}}}
| {{small|{{Coord|25.46172|S|30.929689|E|format=dms |region:ZA_type:landmark_source:ptwiki |display=inline|name=Mbombela Stadium}}}}
| {{small|{{Coord|29|07|02.25|S|26|12|31.85|E|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Free State Stadium}}}}
|-
| [[Royal Bafokeng Stadium]]
| [[Peter Mokaba Stadium]]
| [[Mbombela Stadium]]
| [[Free State Stadium]]
|-
| Capacity: '''42,000'''
| Capacity: '''41,733'''
| Capacity: '''40,929'''
| Capacity: '''40,911'''
|-
| [[File:Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa (8714600990).jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Mbombela Stadium Aerial View.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Free_State_Stadium1.jpg|200px]]
|}

The following stadiums were all upgraded to meet FIFA specifications:
{{col-start|width=80%}}
{{col-3}}
* [[Cecil Payne Stadium]]<ref name="joburg">{{cite web|url=http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/1030/244/ |title=Venues |publisher=City of Johannesburg |access-date=8 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804123029/http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/1030/244/ |archive-date=4 August 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Dobsonville Stadium]]<ref name="joburg"/>
* [[Gelvandale Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/FIFAWORLDCUP/Content.aspx?objID=32 |title=Training Venues |publisher=Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality |access-date=19 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413090212/http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/fifaworldcup/Content.aspx?objID=32 |archive-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Giant Stadium]]<ref name="tshwane"/>
* [[HM Pitje Stadium]]<ref name="tshwane"/>
{{col-3}}
* [[King Zwelithini Stadium]]
* [[Olympia Park|Olympia Park Stadium]]
* [[Orlando Stadium]]<ref name="joburg"/>
* [[Princess Magogo Stadium]]
* [[Rabie Ridge Stadium]]<ref name="joburg"/>
{{col-3}}
* [[Rand Stadium]]<ref name="joburg"/>
* [[Ruimsig Stadium]]<ref name="joburg"/>
* [[Seisa Ramabodu Stadium]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sa2010.gov.za/highlights-2010|title=Highlights 2010|publisher=South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup|access-date=5 March 2010}}</ref>
* [[Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium]]
* [[Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium|Super Stadium]]<ref name="tshwane">{{cite web|url=http://www.tshwane.gov.za/fifa_office.cfm |title=2010 FIFA World Cup Programme Office |publisher=City of Tshwane |access-date=5 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020103211/http://www.tshwane.gov.za/fifa_office.cfm |archive-date=20 October 2008 }}</ref>
{{col-end}}

===Team base camps===
The base camps were used by the 32 national squads to stay and train before and during the World Cup tournament. In February 2010, FIFA announced the base camps for each participating team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/2010/wcbase-250210.htm|title=32 teams, 32 World Cup base camps|work=southafrica.info|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813030915/http://www.southafrica.info/2010/wcbase-250210.htm|archive-date=13 August 2014}}</ref> Fifteen teams were in [[Gauteng Province]], while six teams were based in [[KwaZulu-Natal]], four in the [[Western Cape]], three in [[North West Province]], and one each in [[Mpumalanga]], the [[Eastern Cape]], and the [[Northern Cape]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.capetownmagazine.com/base-camps-2010-soccer-world-cup|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140626214719/http://www.capetownmagazine.com/base-camps-2010-soccer-world-cup|url-status=dead|title=Base Camps FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup - Base Camps Teams FIFA 2010|access-date=6 May 2020|archive-date=26 June 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:80%;"
|-
! Team base camps
|-
|{{col begin}}
{{col-4}}
;[[Eastern Cape]] (1)
* {{fb|GHA}}

;[[Gauteng]] (15)
* {{fb|ARG}}
* {{fb|AUS}}
* {{fb|GER}}
* {{fb|HON|1949}}
* {{fb|ITA}}
* {{fb|MEX}}
* {{fb|NED}}
* {{fb|NZL}}
* {{fb|PRK}}
* {{fb|SRB|2004}}
* {{fb|SVK}}
* {{fb|SLO}}
* {{fb|RSA}}
* {{fb|SUI}}
* {{fb|USA}}

{{col-4}}
;[[KwaZulu-Natal]] (7)
* {{fb|ALG}}
* {{fb|CMR}}
* {{fb|GRE}}
* {{fb|CIV}}
* {{fb|NGR}}
* {{fb|PAR|1990}}
* {{fb|POR}}

;[[Mpumalanga]] (1)
* {{fb|CHI}}

;[[North West Province]] (3)
* {{fb|ENG}}
* {{fb|KOR|1997}}
* {{fb|ESP}}

{{col-4}}
;[[Northern Cape]] (1)
* {{fb|URU}}

;[[Western Cape]] (4)
* {{fb|BRA}}
* {{fb|DEN}}
* {{fb|FRA|1974}}
* {{fb|JPN}}

{{col end}}
|}

==Final draw==

==Group stage==
''All times are [[Time in South Africa|South Africa Standard Time]] ([[UTC+02:00|UTC+2]]).''

The tournament match schedule was announced in November 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/south-africa-world-football-spotlight-from-november-637090 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724143755/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/south-africa-world-football-spotlight-from-november-637090 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 July 2020 |title=South Africa in world football spotlight from 22 to 25 November |publisher=FIFA |date=13 November 2007 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html |title=Official match schedule |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|website=FIFA.com|date=November 2007 |access-date=17 January 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125175526/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html |archive-date=25 November 2007}}</ref> In the first round, or group stage, the 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, with each team playing the other three teams in their group once. Teams were awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The top two teams in each group advanced to the round of 16.

The South American teams performed strongly, with all five advancing to the round of 16 (four as group winners), and four further advancing to the quarter-finals. However, only Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals.

Of the six African teams, only Ghana advanced to the round of 16. South Africa became the first host nation in World Cup history to be eliminated in the first round, despite beating France and drawing with Mexico, while Ghana and Ivory Coast were the only other African teams to win a match. The overall performance of the African teams, in the first World Cup to be hosted on the continent, was judged as disappointing by observers such as Cameroon great [[Roger Milla]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Milla Disappointed With Africa |url=http://soccer365.com/world_cup/story_9710195414.php |website=Soccer365.com |date=9 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427033245/http://soccer365.com/world_cup/story_9710195414.php |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref>

Only six out of the thirteen [[UEFA]] teams advanced to the round of 16, a record low since the introduction of this stage in 1986. Nonetheless, the final was contested by two European teams.<ref name="South Africa 2010 in numbers"/> In another World Cup first, the two finalists from the preceding tournament, Italy and France, were eliminated at the group stage, with Italy becoming the third defending champions to be eliminated in the first round after Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Krishnan |first=Joe |date=18 June 2014 |title=World Cup 2014: Spain and the World Cup holders who crashed out at the group stage |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/world-cup-2014-spain-and-the-world-cup-holders-who-crashed-out-at-the-group-stage-9547351.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |access-date=18 April 2015 |archive-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624060542/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/world-cup-2014-spain-and-the-world-cup-holders-who-crashed-out-at-the-group-stage-9547351.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> New Zealand, one of the lowest-ranked teams, surprised many by drawing all three of their group matches, ending the tournament as the only undefeated team.

{{anchor|Tie-breaking_criteria}}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! Tie-breaking criteria for group play
|-
|Teams were ranked on the following criteria:<ref name="2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa - Regulations">{{cite press release |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/fifa_wc_south_africa_2010_regulations_en_14123.pdf |title=Fifa World Cup South Africa 2010 Regulations|page=41|date=July 2007 |access-date=1 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926230651/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/fifa_wc_south_africa_2010_regulations_en_14123.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007|quote=The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:...|website=FIFA.com|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association}}</ref>
:1. Greater number of points in all group matches
:2. Goal difference in all group matches
:3. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches
:4. Greatest number of points in matches between tied teams
:5. Goal difference in matches between tied teams
:6. Greatest number of goals scored in matches between tied teams
:7. Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee
|}

===Group A===

{{Main|User:PC120LAMEX/sandbox10B#2010 FIFA World Cup Group A|f1=FIFA World Cup Group A}}
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===Group B===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group B}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|transcludesection=standings}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|transcludesection=b2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|transcludesection=b3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|transcludesection=b4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|transcludesection=b5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|transcludesection=b6}}
===Group C===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group C}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=standings}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=c1}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=c2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=c3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=c4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=c5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|transcludesection=c6}}
===Group D===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group D}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=standings}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d1}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d6}}
===Group E===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group E}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=standings}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=e1}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=e2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=e3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=e4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=e5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E|transcludesection=e6}}
===Group F===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group F}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=standings}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=f1}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=f2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=f3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=f4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=f5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group F|transcludesection=f6}}
===Group G===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group G}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=standings}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=g1}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=g2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=g3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=g4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=g5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group G|transcludesection=g6}}
===Group H===

{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup Group H}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=standings}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=h1}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=h2}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=h3}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=h4}}
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{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=h5}}
{{:2010 FIFA World Cup Group H|transcludesection=h6}}

==Knockout stage==
{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage}}
''All times listed are [[South African Standard Time]] ([[UTC+02]])''

The [[single-elimination tournament|knockout stage]] comprised the 16 teams that advanced from the group stage of the tournament. There were four rounds of matches, with each round eliminating half of the teams entering that round. The successive rounds were the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. There was also a play-off to decide third and fourth place. For each game in the knockout stage, any draw at 90 minutes was followed by thirty minutes of [[extra time]]; if scores were still level, there was a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootout]] to determine who progressed to the next round.<ref name=regulations>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/56/42/69/fifawcsouthafrica2010inhalt%5fe.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601111836/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/56/42/69/fifawcsouthafrica2010inhalt_e.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 June 2010 |title=Regulations 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa |publisher=FIFA |year=2010| access-date= 1 December 2011 }}</ref>
{{trim|{{#section-h:2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|Bracket}}}}

===Round of 16===