FACTBOX - Second round venues for 2010 World Cup

REUTERS - The World Cup draw on Friday will decide when and where the 32 teams will play and who their opponents are.

The 10 tournament venues in nine cities are split between the high veldt, where altitude and cold temperatures will be an issue for teams and fans, the warmer coastal locations and the small cities of Nelspruit and Polokwane. All venues are on course for completion by the end of the year.

Following are brief profiles of the five major venues that will host second-round matches after 16 teams are eliminated in the group stage of the month-long finals starting on June 11 next year.

There will be an unusual concentration of World Cup matches in Gauteng, the economic heartland of South Africa and part of the highest-altitude area, where most teams are also expected to establish their training camps in order to acclimatise.

This is also the area with the worst record of violent crime in South Africa, one of the biggest concerns of tournament organisers.

JOHANNESBURG

At 1,753 metres the highest World Cup venue, it is the economic and business capital of South Africa in its richest region. It became a city in the late 19th century during a gold rush to mine the rich Witwatersrand reef. Known by inhabitants as Jozi or Joburg, it was also a centre of political agitation against apartheid before majority rule in 1994, especially in the township of Soweto, and there are important symbols of the struggle including the Apartheid Museum and Nelson Mandela's old home. South Africa's best known sides, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, play in Johannesburg, as do the university side BidVest Wits nicknamed the 'Clever Boys'.

Two stadiums, Soccer City and Ellis Park, will host 15 matches.

SOCCER CITY