“Sport can unite the African continent and help establish peace” said South African President Jacob Zuma at a gala dinner celebrating Africa Day on Saturday. He believes that the entire African continent can claim ownership of the event, which should be used to ensure dialogue and co-operation among Africans.

As the 2010 World Cup in South Africa approaches, the question of what South Africa actually gains from hosting this mega-event is raised more frequently. The South African organisers proclaim that the World Cup will benefit South Africa and the African continent for years to come, but critical voices are joining in, asking who actually benefits from the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA has avoided an embarrassing change of officials for next month’s World Cup by lifting a suspension on El Salvador.

It's easy - and perhaps convenient - to find political issues in this year's World Cup in South Africa. Just the fact that the World Cup takes place in South Africa might be seen as a political issue in itself. But after North Korea sank a South Korean warship in March this year, it is even easier to make political issues out of North Korea and South Korea’s matches.

For many journalists who have never been to South Africa, it may seem like an exotic, dangerous, unusual and intimidating destination. Here are some tips to make your World Cup coverage as pleasant as possible.

Extensive research into trafficking of young African players reveal that major European clubs systematically use loopholes in the regulation to recruit youth players from the African continent, leaving up to 20,000 former footballers living on the streets of European cities.

Anyone reporting from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will no doubt come into contact with scores of colourful, joyful, singing and dancing soccer fanatics at some point on their journey.

The theme page features news, articles and information about the 2010 World Cup, African football, politics, society and football governance.