Soccer City Stadium, Football stadium in Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa
Soccer City Stadium is a football arena in Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa, with around 95,000 seats, making it the largest venue of its kind on the African continent. The outer walls display a mosaic pattern in earth tones that echoes a traditional African cooking vessel, while the stands in several tiers encircle the oval bowl.
The venue opened in 1989 and underwent a major expansion and upgrade for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Nelson Mandela gave his first speech here in Johannesburg in 1990 after his release, which gave the site a special political importance.
The venue takes its name from the First National Bank, which held naming rights until 2018, though it remains known as the FNB Stadium today. Locals often call it the Calabash because of its shape, which resembles an African gourd traditionally used as a container.
Access is through several entrances around the outer ring, with signage leading to different zones. The venue sits southwest of the city center in an open area and is easy to reach by car or organized shuttles during events.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup final took place here, with Spain winning the title, which gave the venue worldwide visibility. In August 2015, over 94,000 spectators gathered for a derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the most attended match in the venue's history.
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