The countdown to the first World Cup to be staged in Africa has begun.

In the southern hemisphere winter of June and July 2010, South Africa will host the biggest single cultural, social and sporting event in the world and the only certainty at this distance is that it will be a very different tournament to the 18th finals that ended in Germany on Sunday.

Already scepticism has been aired doubting South Africa's ability to stage the event but the president Thabo Mbeki was emphatic about his nation's capabilities when he spoke to reporters on Sunday.

"We have absolutely no doubts we will stage a very successful World Cup in 2010. We will succeed in organising a World Cup to FIFA's satisfaction and for millions of fans across the globe," he said.

"It is important for the whole continent of Africa and we are very conscious that we dare not, and cannot fail. Some people might have already aired their scepticism but they will see in four years time that Africans can do this.

"They will see that Africa can discharge its responsibilities the same as every other continent."

FAR LARGER

South Africa have already staged the cricket and rugby World Cups and the African Nations Cup but the soccer World Cup is far larger than all of those events rolled into one.

There are also real fears in the international community over the indiscriminate nature of urban violence in South Africa's cities, of inadequate transport links between cities and worries of traffic management systems in them.

These are the usual worries raised before most World Cups and Olympic Games and are not unique to South Africa but they do not help its cause after a World Cup in a country where these problems were almost non-existent.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Sunday: "Of course the 2010 World Cup will not be the same as this one but the World Cup in South Korea and Japan had its own character too.

"What is important is that we already know the South African World Cup will raise more money than the 2006 World Cup and that the market supports South Africa.

"It will be a World Cup played to the sound of African drums

and all of Africa will be supporting it."