<P> Africa was chosen as the host for the 2010 World Cup as part of a short - lived rotation policy, abandoned in 2007, to rotate the event among football confederations . Five African nations placed bids to host the 2010 World Cup: Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and a joint bid from Libya and Tunisia . </P> <P> Following the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee not to allow co-hosted tournaments, Tunisia withdrew from the bidding process . The committee also decided not to consider Libya's solo bid as it no longer met all the stipulations laid down in the official List of Requirements . </P> <P> The winning bid was announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter at a media conference on 15 May 2004 in Zürich; in the first round of voting, South Africa received 14 votes, Morocco received 10 votes and Egypt no votes . South Africa, which had narrowly failed to win the right to host the 2006 event, was thus awarded the right to host the tournament . Campaigning for South Africa to be granted host status, Nelson Mandela had previously spoken of the importance of football in his life, stating that while incarcerated in Robben Island prison playing football "made us feel alive and triumphant despite the situation we found ourselves in". With South Africa winning their bid, an emotional Mandela raised the FIFA World Cup Trophy . </P> <P> During 2006 and 2007, rumours circulated in various news sources that the 2010 World Cup could be moved to another country . Franz Beckenbauer, Horst R. Schmidt and, reportedly, some FIFA executives, expressed concern over the planning, organisation, and pace of South Africa's preparations . FIFA officials repeatedly expressed their confidence in South Africa as host, stating that a contingency plan existed only to cover natural catastrophes, as had been in place at previous FIFA World Cups . </P>

The bidding process for the 2010 world cup involved three african countries they were south africa