Free State Stadium facts for kids
| Location | Bloemfontein, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 29°07′02″S 26°12′32″E / 29.11722°S 26.20889°E |
| Capacity | 40,911 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1952 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
The Free State Stadium is a large sports arena located in Bloemfontein, South Africa. It is a very important place for sports in the country. Many exciting games of both soccer and rugby are played here.
This stadium was first built in 1952. It has been updated over the years to make it modern and safe. A big renovation happened in 2008. Today, it can hold over 40,000 fans!
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Hosting Big Soccer Events
The Free State Stadium has been a host for major international soccer tournaments. It is known for its role in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This was a huge event for South Africa.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup
In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup. This is one of the biggest sports events in the world. The Free State Stadium was one of only 10 stadiums chosen to host games. This was a very special time for the city of Bloemfontein.
World Cup Matches Played Here
Many exciting matches took place at the Free State Stadium during the 2010 World Cup. Here are some of the games that were played there:
| Date | Time | Group | Team 1 | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 14 June | 16:00 | Group E | Japan | Cameroon |
| Thursday, 17 June | 16:00 | Group B | Greece | Nigeria |
| Sunday, 20 June | 13:30 | Group F | Slovakia | Paraguay |
| Tuesday, 22 June | 16:00 | Group A | France | South Africa |
| Friday, 25 June | 20:30 | Group H | Switzerland | Honduras |
| Sunday, 27 June | 16:00 | Round of 16 | 1D | 2C |
All times listed above are in South African Standard Time (UTC+2).
Other Major Tournaments
Before the World Cup, the Free State Stadium also hosted games for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. This tournament is like a warm-up for the World Cup. It brings together champions from different continents. Hosting these events shows how important the stadium is for international sports.
