World Cup stadiums in South Africa

Aerial view of the new Green Point Stadium from the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa.
Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Green Point's interior with Table Mountain behind it. The stadium, sheathed in Taflon-coated fiberglass, has been called 'the diva of Cape Town'
Photograph: Marcus Bredt/GMP Architekten

The skin of the building changes colour with the sun, becoming translucent at night as the stadium is lit from within
Photograph: Marcus Bredt/GMP Architekten

One of the sleek concourses. The stadium was designed by German architects GMP Architekten, Cologne with a group of Cape Town practices
Photograph: Marcus Bredt/GMP Architekten

'These stadiums are as pristine as a Braun radio by Dieter Rams, or a Silver Arrow Mercedes-Benz racing car' says Jonathan Glancey
Photograph: Marcus Bredt/GMP Architekten

The Soccer City stadium, in Soweto just outside Johannesburg. South Africa's biggest stadium has been completely reconstructed to look like a giant 'melting pot'
Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

The interior of the Soccer City stadium, which will host the opening and closing World Cup games
Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

An aerial view of the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth. The stadium is clad in aluminium and crowned with a high-tech polytetraflurethylene roof
Photograph: handout/AFP/Getty Images

A beautiful petal-like structure overlooking North End Lake, it's designed to hold 46,000 people
Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images

The Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit, whose seats are zebra-striped. They have provoked a debate amongst architects. Some say they're in tune with local wishes, other say they're patronising
Photograph: Handout/AFP/Getty Images

Aerial view of the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. Visitors will be able to ride a funicular up to a platform at the top of the arch, although sadly not during matches
Photograph: Handout/AFP/Getty Images

The dramatic 70,000-seater is dominated by a 105-metre high arch, supporting a cable-stayed roof
Photograph: Handout/Getty Images

The Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane. A chunky 45,000-seater, the roof is held up by concrete and steel representations of the local, and unmistakable, boabab tree
Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images