Thaindian News

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (BNO NEWS) — The 2010 FIFA World Cup is less than 24 hours away, as the biggest sporting event in the world kicks off Friday for the first time in the continent of Africa.

The first World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay, and ever since (with the exception 1942 and 1946, due to World War II) a country is chosen to host the event every four years. 2010 marks the 80th edition of the cup, and for the first time in its history, it will be hosted in Africa, as South Africa is ready to kick off the event Friday.

The South African national team, also known as Bafana Bafana, will open the event against Mexico, and it is hoping to please the expected 94,000 fans, which will congregate at the Soccer City Stadium located in Johannesburg. Bafana is currently on a 12-game unbeaten run, but Mexico is coming off a win against the current world champions, Italy.

“My boys have to play well against [Mexico] with the ball on the ground. This is our big strength. That is what I want the South African team to believe in,” Carlos Albert Perreira, who is coaching the South Africans. “I believe if you want to qualify for the second round you have to do something special and for us that would mean in the technical and skills aspects of the game,” he added.

A roaring South African crowd has planned to turn out in yellow, as they will most likely outnumber the Mexican fans, who traditionally wear green. In addition, fans have refused to do the traditional Mexican wave on Friday, as kick off is scheduled for 4 p.m., local time, local media said.

The 2006 edition of the World Cup, which took place in Germany, crowned Italy’s national team with their fourth championship, but Brazil has been historically the most successful team to participate in the World Cup, as it has won the event on five occasions.