The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa June 11 through July 11 and Spain has been made the opening favorites to win this year’s Cup.
This will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, which is the premier international football tournament. The Cup will be the culmination of a qualification process that began in August 2007 and involved 204 of the 208 FIFA national teams. With South Africa’s win over Morocco and Egypt in an all-African bidding process, this will be the first time that the Cup has been hosted by an African nation.
Despite never winning a title, oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com has made Spain a 9/2 favorite to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Their odds best Brazil (5/1), England (11/2) and Argentina (9/1), among other teams.
Brazil has won the most FIFA World Cup titles at five (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). They were also runners-up in 1950 and 1998, took third place in 1938 and 1978, and fourth place in 1974.
Italy is right behind Brazil with four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). The Italians were also runners-up in 1970 and 1994, took third place in 1990 and fourth place in 1978. Italy is 11/1 to win this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Germany (3), Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), France (1) and England (1) are the only other countries to win a title. Germany is 12/1 to win in 2010, Uruguay is 100/1 and France is 14/1. USA is a 50/1 underdog.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup takes place on June 11 and wraps up on July 11. Thrity-two teams will compete in this year’s Cup at 10 venues and nine host cities throughout South Africa. For a complete list of odds on this year’s FIFA Cup, see below.
2010 FIFA World Cup – June 11 – July 11 – South Africa
Spain 9/2
Brazil 5/1
England 11/2
Argentina 9/1
Italy 11/1
Germany 12/1
Netherlands 12/1
France 14/1
Ivory Coast 25/1
Portugal 28/1
USA 50/1
Chile 50/1
Serbia 50/1
Ghana 50/1
Paraguay 66/1
Mexico 80/1
Cameroon 80/1
South Africa 100/1
Nigeria 100/1
Uruguay 100/1
Denmark 100/1
Australia 100/1
Greece 125/1
Switzerland 200/1
Slovenia 200/1
Slovakia 200/1
Japan 300/1
Algeria 250/1
South Korea 300/1
Honduras 500/1
New Zealand 1500/1
North Korea 1500/1
