- Address: Phokeng
- Country: South Africa
- Capacity: 44,000
- Opened: 1999
- Main use: Football
- Tenants:
Extra stadium info – Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace
The stadium is known as a venue for several events, like athletics, concerts, football and rugby union. It hosted games for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The former football competition was contested by the holders of each of the six continental championships. The FIFA World Cup winners and the national football team of the host nation also participated in the former competition. The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace also hosted FIFA World Cup matches in 2010. The prestigious FIFA World Cup is known as the world championship for national football teams. The stadium in Phokeng hosted its first games for the Africa Cup of Nations, the African championship for national football teams, in 2013.
The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
On 14 June 2009, the national football team of Spain defeated New Zealand in the first-ever FIFA Confederations Cup game at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace. Egypt, South Africa and the United States also played at the venue during the group stage of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. On 28 June 2009, the national football team of Spain finished third place in the tournament after winning against South Africa. A crowd of 31,000 showed up for the match, which took place at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup
The national football teams of Australia, Denmark, England, Ghana, Japan, New Zealand, the Slovak Republic, the United Mexican States, the United States and Uruguay played at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On 12 June 2010, the venue hosted its first-ever FIFA World Cup game. The match between the national football teams of England and the United States ended in a 1-1 draw. 38,000 people attended the world championship game. After five group-stage matches, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace hosted a round-of-16 game. Ghana won the match after beating the United States.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace was one of the venues for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The first-ever Africa Cup of Nations game at the venue took place on 22 January 2013. The national football team of the Côte d’Ivoire won the African championship match after defeating Togo 2-1. Algeria, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tunisia also played at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace during the group stage of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The stadium also hosted a quarter-final for the tournament. The match between the Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria ended in a victory for Nigeria.
