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
2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup The 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was the first edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, an international beach soccer competition contest by men's national teams and organized by FIFA. Overall, it was the 11th edition of the tournament since its establishment in 1995 as the Beach Soccer World Championship. It took place in at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 8 and 15 May. France defeated Portugal 1–0 in a penalty shootout, following a 3–3 draw after extra-time, to win their first title. The 12 teams present at the