Blatter says World Cup hosts face transport challenge

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says South Africa still faces challenges around transport and hotel accommodation for its hosting of the 2010 World Cup finals.

Blatter said he told South African President Thabo Mbeki in a meeting in Cape Town yesterday that while stadium construction was well underway, the country now had to turn its attention to ensuring enough facilities for thousands of visitors during the tournament.

"We have seen progress in the building of the stadiums but the system of transport definitely has to be looked at. There will be a lot of visitors and there is a great need from companies to help with extra capacity for airplanes, buses and local transport," Blatter told reporters after the meeting.

South African organisers expect at least 350,000 visitors for the tournament, considerably down on the initial estimates of some 900,000 when they first bid for the tournament.