2010 FIFA World Cup 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. 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
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA) The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (UEFA) is a European beach soccer tournament to qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The tournament was introduced by FIFA as qualification event for the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Before 2008, the top teams from the Euro Beach Soccer League qualified for the World Cup but the new format gives more countries an opportunity to qualify. They are similar to the beach soccer championships in other confederations. Times when only four teams qualify is when the host nation of the World Cup