The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to congratulate Korea Republic for becoming the third team today to qualify for Africa's first FIFA World Cup™.

Korea Republic qualified from Group 2 of the Asian zone's 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after beating Saudia Arabia 2-0 in Dubai tonight.

"We want to warmly congratulate the Korea Republic for making it to South Africa 2010. We all still fondly remember the ‘Red Army' and the team's incredible surge to the semi-finals of their home FIFA World Cup. The team and their fantastic fans will be great additions to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and we are sure they will be very popular next year," said the OC's Chief Executive Officer Dr Danny Jordaan.

After Japan today also qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the two host countries who so memorably staged Asia's first FIFA World Cup in 2002 will now be packing their bags for South Africa 2010 in June next year. They will join hosts South Africa and Australia, who also qualified for today at the tournament being held from 11 June to 11 July next year.

"We at the 2010 Organising Committee have great affinity and similarities with Korea and Japan. Their joint staging of Asia's first FIFA World Cup so successfully raised the profile of Asian football and showcased both the continent's football and organisational abilities. We are hoping to achieve the same result with Africa's first FIFA World Cup next year and look to Japan and the Korea Republic as inspirations. We are delighted that these two very special countries and football teams have qualified for South Africa 2010 and we can't wait to see them here in just one year's time," said Jordaan.

*Issued by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) Communications Division

For further information please contact: OC Chief of Communications, Rich Mkhondo, E-mail: rich.mkhondo@2010oc.com, Mobile: +27832010254

OC Media Manager, Jermaine Craig, E-mail: jermaine.craig@2010oc.com, Mobile: +27832010121

OC Content Coordinator, Marisa Berndsen, E-mail: marisa.berndsen@2010oc.com, Mobile: +27832010225 www.FIFA.com