World Cup 2010: Brazil Will Be Welcomed To Johannesburg

Posted Sunday, January 31, 2010 by Goal.com

Brazil will be based on the outskirts of Johannesburg during the first stage of the World Cup in South Africa.

Brazil Fans In South Africa - Confederations Cup 2009

The Brazilian Football Confederation said on Thursday that the five-time world champions will stay at the Hotel Fairway in the nearby city of Randburg.

The five-star hotel is inside a golf club and is being renovated to accommodate the Brazilians.

The Selecao will play two matches in Johannesburg in the group stage - against North Korea at Ellis Park on June 15 and against Ivory Coast at Soccer City Stadium on June 20. Brazil's final Group G match, against Portugal on June 25, will be in Durban.

Goal.com spoke to football fans in the South African city, and news of the confirmation of Brazil's stay was warmly welcomed.

"This is great news. To have the likes of Kaka and Ronaldinho staying in Joburg is a funny thing, because they are idols of soccer that we see every week, it is a wonderful thing to have them here," said Sizwe.

Portuguese shop owner Arnaldo had similar words for the Confederations Cup champions. "They will be welcomed to Johannesburg, and I will go watch the training with my family. It will be a real festival and I am glad they chose this city rather than one of the others at the coast. They will not regret it."

Arnaldo's five-year-old son Rodrigo chimed in, "I can't wait to see them in front of me, maybe when they are training I can play too and show them my skills."

Brazil will practice for about a week in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba before heading to South Africa.