The Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ took place in Cape Town on 4 December before an audience including South African President Jacob Zuma, FIFA President Joseph Blatter, football stars past and present and broadcasters from around the world. By the end of the event the first 48 matches of the tournament had been determined, allowing coaches to start thinking about tactics, fans to make their travel arrangements and Host Broadcast Services to begin the most difficult part of its four-year (and then some) undertaking.

HBS started working on the 2010 tournament even before the final whistle had blown on the 2006 edition and has kept ramping up its workload (and team) ever since. But tonight's event in Cape Town nonetheless marked a symbolic start to the most specialised sort of host broadcasting work. With the teams and venues now finalised HBS can implement match-specific procedures, determine travel plans and work out various logistical and technical issues. With just over six months to go until the kick-off of the 2010  Opening Match between South Africa and Mexico (11 June in Johannesburg) much remains to be done according to the roadmap fixed by HBS before it once again makes broadcast history.

HBS was the host broadcaster of the Final Draw, which was broadcast live in over 200 countries and territories. For more information about the event, please refer to the FIFA website.