JOHANNESBURG, 8 September 2009 - As some of the biggest nations in world football secure their places at next year's 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the focus of the tournament's Organising Committee (OC) is firmly on the Final Draw, to be held in Cape Town on 4 December 2009. The draw will decide the group stages of the tournament and will map the 32 qualifying teams' potential road to the final.

The OC is pleased to announce that the production company for the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is Combined Artists Productions. The company has helped the OC produce two world-class draw shows to date - the Preliminary Draw in November 2007 in Durban and the FIFA Confederations Cup Draw in November 2008 in Johannesburg. Combined Artists Productions will produce the stage and the show for the Final Draw. The stage and set have been designed and are in the process of final sign-off before commissioning commences.

"Combined Artists Productions has already proven its ability to put on productions that are world-class and that capture the unique spirit of South Africa and we are excited to be working alongside them to host this very important event," said OC Chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, following a meeting of the OC's Board.

"The final draw in Germany attracted a cumulative television audience of 134.5 million individuals and was shown live in 137 countries, so clearly this is a huge opportunity for us to showcase our country to a watching world. I am confident that we will put on a show to remember," added Khoza.

More than 2000 guests will watch the draw live and close to 1000 media professionals are expected to cover the draw.

The board also congratulated the teams that have qualified to date.

Seven countries have booked their spot alongside host country South Africa at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The world's most successful football nation, Brazil, became the first South American team to qualify for the tournament over the weekend, while Ghana became the first African team to qualify on Sunday 6 September. They join Korea Republic, Korea DPR, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands and the host nation at South Africa 2010.

By tomorrow this number may have grown further with England, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, Serbia, Chile and Paraguay all having a chance of qualifying on 9 September 2009.

"By 18 November we will know which 32 teams will compete for World Cup glory next year and on 4 December we will decide where the teams will play during the group stages of the tournament. Once this is known the focus will be on finalising the team base camps for all teams and ensuring that our transport and accommodation plans meet the needs of the travelling fans," said OC CEO, Dr Danny Jordaan.

Progress on construction of the six new FIFA World Cup stadiums is good. With all stadiums now between 80 and 92 per cent complete, all that remains before the stadiums are handed over to the OC are the final touches to the stadium bowls and work on the precinct areas surrounding the stadiums.

Support for the tournament both locally and abroad is strong - at the close of applications for the Volunteering Programme on 31 August 2009, 67,999 people from 170 countries had applied to be in South Africa next year to help deliver the event.

The OC Board also announced the reappointment of former Minister in the Office of the Presidency, Dr Essop Pahad, to the Board.

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

FIFA.com