Pop concert to launch South Africa World Cup

The FIFA World Cup in South Africa is to get off to a musical start with a pop concert in Johannesburg on 10 June featuring African and international stars.

The line up at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto includes R&B singer Alicia Keys, hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas, Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, John Legend from the United States and the Grammy award winning singer from Benin, Angelique Kidjo. Past and present football stars will also be present on stage.

Tickets for the concert cost R450-1,150 and can be purchased online at www.computicket.com or by calling +27 083 915 8000. Net proceeds from the concert will support the official FIFA charity campaign 20 Centres for 2010 to build 20 education and health centres across the continent.

The World Cup begins on 11 June and ends a month later on 11 July, with the opening and closing matches being played at the newly rebuilt Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. In all matches will be held at ten venues in nine cities across the country.