More teams arrive in SA for World Cup

Monday, June 7, 2010

Pretoria - With just three days to kick-off, more than half of the 32 teams have arrived in South Africa in the past two weeks to take part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Local Organising Committee's Danny Jordaan on Sunday welcomed Greece, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Chile and New Zealand.

"It is a great pleasure to be able to welcome the six teams that arrived in South Africa today. With the football stars now arriving in the country, we are really starting to feel the excitement. The World Cup has well and truly landed," Jordaan said.

Portugal will play their opening game against Cote d'Ivoire in Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 15 June. They then switch to Cape Town to play against Korea DPR on 21 June, ending their group matches in Durban to take on the Brazil on 25 June.

Nelson Mandela Bay will also see Greece opening their tournament against Korea Republic on 12 June before travelling to Mangaung to face the Super Eagles of Nigeria on 17 June.

From there, Greece will then make the trip to Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, to play Argentina, in the final group match on 22 June.

Japan will play their first game against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Mangaung on 14 June before making the journey to Durban to play Netherlands on 19 June. They will then move from Durban to Rustenburg to play their last group match against Denmark on 24 June.

Netherlands will play their opening fixture against Denmark at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on 14 June before travelling to Durban to face Japan on 19 June, then moving to Cape Town to face Cameroon on 24 June.

Chile begins the tournament in Nelspruit against Honduras on 16 June, moving to Nelson Mandela Bay to take on Switzerland 21 June. They will move to Tshwane to take on Spain in their final group game on 25 June.

New Zealand will open their tournament against Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on 15 June. They will then travel to Nelspruit to face Italy on 20 June. They will then travel to Polokwane to play Paraguay in their final group match on 24 June.