The FIFA President completed a visit to the country by inspecting the facilities at Ellis Park, the venue for the opening ceremony and final and which is currently undergoing a R230 million (£15.43 million) refrubishment, and expressing his delight at how things were going.

 

He said: "What I have seen and assurances and guarantees that I have been given makes me a happy man today, and as I am leaving tonight I am convinced that South Africa will organise a great World Cup."

 

There had been growing reservations among FIFA executives, it had been reported, that South Africa would not be ready in time and that England, Germany, Australia or the Untied States were being lined up as a replacement.

 

But Blatter has dashed their fears and wants South Africa to begin concentrating on hosting the event, which they hope will be the platform for a bid to host the Olympics, possibly in Durban in 2020.

Blatter said: “It gives me a real pleasure to wind up this visit here at Ellis Park, which I visited back in 1993 and which is an exceptional venue.

 

"I think that the media should now start focusing on and campaigning for next year's [warm-up tournament] Confederations Cup, give it so much publicity so that people can flock to the stadiums in great numbers."