The 2010 World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship between 32 men's national football teams. It was held in South Africa from 11 June to 10 July 2010. In the host selection, only African countries may be selected as host of this tournament. In 2004 FIFA selected South Africa to become it the first African country hosted FIFA World Cup.

The matches were played in 10 stadiums in 9 cities around the country. The final was played at the Soccer City, Johannesburg
All countries (except South Africa that qualified as host nation) took part in qualification tournament to qualify to the World Cup. In the first round all teams were divided to eight groups of four teams where team played with other three teams in group. Two best teams from each group qualify to knockout stage where teams need to win 3 matches to reach the final.

In the final Spain, the European champions, won the tournament. They defeated Netherlands 1-0 in extra time with Andrés Iniesta's goal in the 116th minute. Spain got their first World Cup title and they also became the first European team won the World Cup outside Europe. They also became the first team to win the World Cup after losing their first match. Host nation of this tournament South Africa, winner (Italy) and finalist (France) of previous World Cup were all failed the group stage. It was the first time when host nation was not qualified to knockout stage. New Zealand was only team that did not lose any matches but it also did not advance to knockout stage

Participants

Africa 
        (ALG) • Squad
       (CMR) • Squad
  (CIV) • Squad
          (GHA) • Squad
        (NGA) • Squad
   (RSA) • Squad

Asia 
    (AUS) • Squad
        (JPN) • Squad
  (PRK) • Squad
  (KOR) • Squad

Europe 
      (DEN) • Squad
      (ENG) • Squad
       (FRA) • Squad
      (GER) • Squad
       (GRE) • Squad
        (ITA) • Squad
  (NED) • Squad
     (POR) • Squad
       (SRB) • Squad
     (SVK) • Squad
     (SVN) • Squad 
        (ESP) • Squad
  (SUI) • Squad

North and Central America 
       (HON) • Squad
         (MEX) • Squad
  (USA) • Squad

Oceania 
  (NZL) • Squad

South America 
  (ARG) • Squad
     (BRA) • Squad
      (CHI) • Squad
   (PAR) • Squad
    (URU) • Squad

Stadiums 
In 2005, the organizers released a list of thirteen venues to be used for the World Cup. They were officially announced by FIFA on 17 March 2006:

Man of the match 
New for 2010 is the Budweiser Man of the Match award. Fans vote for the top player for each match in the World Cup tournament.

Group Stage 
The first round was also called the Group stage. There were 32 teams in the first round of the World Cup. The teams were divided into eight groups with four teams in each group. The groups were named Group A through Group H.

Each team in a group played all the other teams in their group one time. That means there were six games in each group and 48 games in the first round. The top two teams from each group in this round advanced (were allowed to play) in the next round, named the Round of 16.

The FIFA uses the following method to rank teams in the first round.
 The highest number of points in the group matches.
 The goal difference in the group matches.
 The goal difference is found by subtracting the number of goals against (GA) from the number of goals for (GF).
 The highest number of goals scored in the group matches.
 The highest number of points in the matches between the tied teams.
 The goal difference in the matches between the tied teams.
 The highest number of goals scored in matches between the tied teams.
 By the drawing of lots (a random selection) by the FIFA Organizing Committee.

Legend:
 P = total games played
 W = total games won
 D = total games drawn (tied)
 L = total games lost
 GF = total goals scored (goals for)
 GA = total goals conceded (goals against)
 GD = goal difference (GF−GA)
 Pts = total points accumulated 
 teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss

All times are given in South African Standard time (UTC+2).

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F 

Schedule

Group G 

Schedule

Group H 

Schedule

Knockout stage 
The games starting with the second round are known as the knockout stage. These games can not end in a draw (tie). If a match (game) is tied at the end of 90 minutes (the regular game time limit), extra periods are added to the game. Two periods, each 15 minutes long, will be played. If the score is still tied after the two extra periods, the game will be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third-place match

Final

Statistics

Goalscorers

5 goals 
 David Villa
 Wesley Sneijder
 Thomas Müller
 Diego Forlán

4 goals 
 Gonzalo Higuaín
 Róbert Vittek
 Mirtoslav Klose

3 goals 
 Luis Suárez
 Landon Donovan
 Asamoah Gyan
 Luís Fabiano

2 goals 
 Elano
 Robinho
 Tiago
 Kalu Uche
 Lee Jung-Soo
 Lee Chung-Yong
 Brett Holman
 Keisuke Honda
 Samuel Eto'o
 Lukas Podolski
 Carlos Tévez
 Javier Hernández
 Arjen Robben
 Andrés Iniesta

1 goal 
 Siphiwe Tshabalala
 Bongani Khumalo
 Katlego Mphela
 Rafael Márquez
 Cuauhtémoc Blanco
 Park Ji-Sung
 Park Chu-Young
 Gabriel Heinze
 Martín Demichelis
 Martín Palermo
 Steven Gerrard
 Jermain Defoe
 Matthew Upson
 Clint Dempsey
 Michael Bradley
 Robert Koren
 Valter Birsa
 Zlatan Ljubijankič
 Cacau
 Mesut Özil
 Arne Friedrich
 Marcell Jansen
 Sami Khedira
 Dirk Kuyt
 Robin van Persie
 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
 Giovanni van Bronckhorst
 Antolín Alcaraz
 Enrique Vera
 Cristian Riveros
 Daniele De Rossi
 Vincenzo Iaquinta
 Antonio Di Natale
 Fabio Quagliarella
 Winston Reid
 Shane Smeltz
 Maicon
 Juan
 Ji Yun-Nam
 Jean Beauséjour
 Mark González
 Rodrigo Millar
 Gelson Fernandes
 Álvaro Pereira
 Maxi Pereira
 Edinson Cavani
 Dimitris Salpingidis
 Vasilis Torosidis
 Milan Jovanović
 Marko Pantelić
 Tim Cahill
 Nicklas Bendtner
 Dennis Rommedahl
 John Dahl Tomasson
 Didier Drogba
 Yaya Touré
 Romaric
 Salomon Kalou
 Raúl Meireles
 Simão
 Hugo Almeida
 Liédson
 Cristiano Ronaldo
 Florent Malouda
 Yakubu Aiyegbeni
 Kamil Kopúnek
 Yasuhito Endō
 Shinji Okazaki
 Carles Puyol
 Kevin-Prince Boateng
 Sulley Muntari

Own goals 
 Daniel Agger (against  Netherlands)
 Park Chu-Young (against  Argentina)

Discipline 
28 players were suspended after being shown two consecutive yellow cards (13 players), a single red card (8 players), or a yellow card followed by a red card (7 players).

Awards 
 Golden Ball:  Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
 Golden Boot:  Thomas Müller (Germany)
 Golden Glove:  Iker Casillas (Spain)
 Best Young Player:  Thomas Müller (Germany)
 FIFA Fair Play Trophy:

All-Star Team
The Best 11 was decided by an online public vote, where people were invited to select a team (in a 4–4–2 formation) and best coach. Voting was open until 23:59 on 11 July 2010, with submissions going into a draw to win a prize.

Six of the eleven players came from the Spanish team, as did the coach. The remainder of the team comprised two Germans, one Brazilian, one Dutchman and a Uruguayan.

 Goalkeeper:  Iker Casillas (Spain)
 Defenders:  Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol (Spain),  Maicon (Brazil),  Philipp Lahm (Germany)
 Midfielders:  Andrés Iniesta and Xavi (Spain),  Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany),  Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)
 Forwards:  Diego Forlán (Uruguay),  David Villa (Spain)
 Coach:  Vicente del Bosque (Spain)

References

Other websites 

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 

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FIFA World Cup tournaments
FIFA World Cup
Football in South Africa
2010s in South Africa