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
2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup squads 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup squads The 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was an international beach soccer tournament held in the Bahamas from 27 April to 7 May 2017. The 16 national teams involved in the tournament were required by FIFA to register a squad of 12 players, including two goalkeepers. Only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament which was revealed on 20 April 2017. This article lists the national beach soccer squads that took part in the tournament. The age listed for each player is as on 27 April 2017, the