Confederations Cup

The FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years. The participants of Confederations Cup are the winners of six continental soccer championships held by correspondent FIFA confederations (CAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, OFC, CONCACAF) plus the FIFA World Cup winner and the national team of the country hosting the competition.

When the World Cup champions is the winner of the national championship, the another finalist of the World Cup is picked to take part in Confederations Cup. In the year 2005 the Brazilian football team managed to become World Cup champion as well as the winner of Copa América, and Germany national soccer team while being the World Cup runner-up also became the host of the Confederations Cup. Thus the

vacant eighth spot was awarded to Argentina, runner-up in the Copa América.

FIFA Confederations Cup History

Confederations Cup evolved form the King Fahd Cup (or Intercontinental Championship ), which was held on the similar premises in Saudi Arabia in 1992 and 1995. Soon after that FIFA organized the first official Confederations Cup and set the Cup to be held each two years. Since 2005 the Confederations Cup is contested each four years in the country which is to host World Cup the next year. Thus the Confederations Cup is in a sense a rehearsal of the World Cup.

Confederations Cup uses around half of the stadia intended for use at the following year’s World Cup and gives the host nation, who qualifies for that tournament automatically, a vital taste of competitive football during two years of friendlies.

The first forerunner of the Confederations Cup was the Mundialito, or Copa D’Oro . The Artemio Franchi Trophy, contested in 1985 and 1993 between the winners of the Copa America and European Football Championships, is considered a precursor to the Confederations Cup and was effectively replaced by the tournament in the same way that the Intercontinental Cup club tournament preceded the FIFA Club World Cup.

2009 Confederations Cup

The current 2009 Confederations Cup is held in South Africa and

is the eighth Confederations Cup held from 14 June to 28 June 2009, as a prelude to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The draw was held on 22 November 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Each team was represented in the draw by its competitor in the Miss World 2008 competition, except for Iraq, which was represented by Miss World 2007, Zhang Zilin, from the People’s Republic of China.

The opening match was played at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg. The defending champions are Brazil , who won in 2005

• Pot A: South Africa (automatically placed as Team A1), Brazil, Italy, Spain
• Pot B: Egypt, Iraq, New Zealand, United States

2009 Confederations Cup Venues

Coca-Cola Park (Johannesburg)	Royal Bafokeng Stadium	Loftus Versfeld Stadium	Free State Stadium
Coca-Cola Park	Royla Bafokeng Stadium	Loftus Versfeld Stadium	Free State Stadium
Capacity: 62,567	Capacity: 42,000	Capacity: 51,762	Capacity: 48,000
Owner: The Golden Lions Rugby Union	Owner: Royal Bafokeng Nation	Owner:	Tenants: Bloemfontein Celtic
Opened: 1928	Opened: 1999	Opened: 1906	Opened:
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa	Location: Phokeng, North West Province, South Africa	Location: Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa	Location: Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa

Coca-Cola Park (Johannesburg)

Coca-Cola Park, formerly known as Ellis Park Stadium, is a rugby union and football (soccer) stadium in the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The large stadium was the country’s most modern when it was upgraded in 1982 to accommodate almost 60,000 people. Today, the stadium hosts both football and rugby, and is also used as a venue for other large events, such as open-air concerts. The stadium was formerly named after Mr J.D. Ellis who made the area for the stadium available. Following a ZAR 450 million (USD 58 million/ £ 30 million) naming rights deal with the Coca-Cola Company in 2008, the name of the stadium was changed to Coca-Cola Park.

Royal Bafokeng Stadium

The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a rugby union, football (soccer) and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa. The capacity of the stadium was increased from 38,000 to 42,000 in preparation for the WC to be able to host four first and two second round matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.The Stadium upgrade was completed in March 2009 for hosting 4 matches of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Loftus Versfeld Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Pretoria, South Africa. The stadium has a capacity of 51,762 and is an all seater venue.

The stadium was named after Robert Owen Loftus Versfeld, the founder of organized sports in Pretoria. Through the years the stadium has undergone various name changes as sponsors came and went, though locals have always referred to the stadium as Loftus Versfeld.

Minimal upgrading was undertaken in order for Loftus Versfeld to qualify as a venue for first and second round matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The floodlights, sound system, scoreboards and stadium roof were improved and, while expected to be finished in August 2008, renovation was completed in January 2009.

Free State Stadium

The Free State Stadium , also known as Vodacom Park , is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used for rugby union, as well as football (soccer).

n advance of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a second tier will be added to the main grandstand on the western side of the ground, increasing the net capacity from 36,538 to 48,000- mark required for venues to stage 1st and 2nd round matches.

Bloemfontein is to receive R221 million to upgrade the stadium. Though cost estimates are at R245 million, the city has decided to stand in for the R24m shortfall. New turnstiles will be erected, the floodlights will be upgraded, electronic scoreboards will be installed, the sound system will be revamped to the required standards, CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) and the media facilities will be improved.