What Soccer Means to South Africa
Dominic Nahr / Reportage by Getty Images for TIME
The Tiers Inside the Stadium
Organizing-committee boss Jordaan thanked the people who built Soccer City by giving out 54,000 match tickets, two to each worker. In this photo, fans search for their seats prior to the beginning of the first game to be played on its pitch.
Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.