World Cup's Shiny New Digs: Satellite Big Pics

June 11, 2010 -- At 4 p.m. today in Johannesburg (10 a.m. Eastern time), the lights go up on the 2010 World Cup, the biggest sporting event in the world.

Of the ten stadia hosting the competitions 64 matched, Soccer City Stadium sits as the crown jewel (above). Formerly known as FNB Stadium, the building is steeped in historical significance. To the west and northwest lie giant slag piles, the leftovers of a gold mining industry that once formed the backbone of this resource-rich country. To the southwest lies the Soweto neighborhood, a product of the apartheid era where black laborers lived in poverty (below).

After Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, he gave his first speech in Johannesburg in Soccer City, which will seat 94,700 fans for today's game, and will host the championship match next month.

Soweto's soccer roots run deep, dating to the 19th century, and are intertwined with political struggle. Whites-only leagues in wealthier parts of the city were countered with blacks-only leagues in Soweto. An integrated league sprung up and colorblind soccer was played for decades, only to be crushed by apartheid in the 1960s.

In response to the codified racism and oppression, the governing body of international soccer, FIFA, banned South Africa. In a bold move, FIFA informed the country in 1979 that it would only be allowed back onto the world stage if apartheid were ended.

Now the "rainbow nation" is set to show the world just how far it has come. Beyond Soccer City, Cape Town's shining 64,100-seat Green Point Stadium shines as a modern, artistic beacon near the coast (above). It, along with the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban (below), will host the two semi-finals matches that determine who returns to Soccer City on July 11 for a shot at soccer immortality.

by Michael Reilly

Satellite images courtesy of GeoEye.