SOCCER CITY
City: Johannesburg
Key fixtures: 11 June - Opening match; 27 - Last 16; 2 July - Quarter-final; 11 July - Final.
Capacity for World Cup: 94,700
Located in the south west of the city, Soccer City's capacity is being raised from 80,000 for the tournement. Built in 1987, it hosted the 1996 African Cup of Nations final in which South Africa beat Tunisia.
ELLIS PARK STADIUM
City: Johannesburg
Key fixtures: 28 June - Last 16, 3 July - Quarter-final.
Capacity for World Cup: 62,000
The home of the Orlando Pirates, Ellis Park's capacity was raised to 62,000 before this summer's Confederations Cup. First built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium, and then demolished and rebuilt in 1982, it hosted the Rugby World Cup final in 1995, which South Africa won.
GREEN POINT STADIUM
City: Cape Town
Key fixtures: 11 June - Opening-day group match; 29 June - Last 16; 3 July - Quarter Final; 6 July - Semi-final.
Capacity for World Cup: 70,000
The newly-built Green Point Stadium, close to the ocean and moutains of Cape Town, is scheduled for completion in December.
MOSES MOBHIDA STADIUM
City: Durban
Key fixtures: 28 June - Last 16; 7 July - Semi-final.
Capacity for World Cup: 70,000
Another newly-built arena, constructed on the site of the old Kings Park Stadium, the Moses Mobhida Stadium is just a couple of hundred yards from the beach and Indian Ocean. Like Wembley, the stadium boasts a distinctive grand arch.
NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM
City: Port Elizabeth
Key fixtures: 26 June - Last 16; 2 July - Quarter-final; 10 July - Third-place play-off.
Capacity for World Cup: 48,000
Completed in time for this summer's British and Irish Lions rugby union tour, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is state of the art multipurpose ground. It will host seven matches at World Cup and was built especially for the tournament.
MBOMBELA STADIUM
City: Nelspruit
Key fixtures: Four first-round matches.
Capacity for World Cup: 46,000
Another newly-built venue for the World Cup, the Mbombela Stadium, about seven kilometres north of Nelspruit, is situated close to various game parks.
LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM
City: Pretoria
Key fixtures: Five first-round matches; 29 June - Last 16.
Capacity for World Cup: 50,000
One of the oldest stadiums in South Africa, construction began on Loftus Versfeld Stadium in 1923. It is home to the current Super 14 rugby union champions the Blue Bulls and a regular South Africa Test venue.
FREE STATE STADIUM
City: Bloemfontein
Key fixtures: Five first-round matches; 27 June - Last 16.
Capacity for World Cup: 48,000
Upgraded from a capacity of 38,000 for the World Cup, the Free State Stadium hosted Spain's shock defeat to USA in this summer's Confederations Cup. It is opposite Bloemfontein's international cricket ground.
ROYAL BAFOKENG SPORTS PALACE
City: Rustenburg
Key fixtures: Five first-round matches; 26 June - Last 16.
Capacity for World Cup: 42,000
Originally built as a venue for the 1995 rugby World Cup, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace was redeveloped for the World Cup. It is an impressive bowl-shaped venue with very open seating.
PETER MOKABA STADIUM
City: Polokwane
Key fixtures: Four first-round matches.
Capacity for World Cup: 46,000
A largely concrete structure whose design is inspired by the Baobab tree, the Peter Mokaba Stadium is scheduled for completion in 2010.
