The country's tourism industry will benefit from the estimated three million visitors expected for the tournament, while construction and engineering companies will look to a slice of the billions to be spent on infrastructure in the lead-up to the event.
However, the indirect spin-offs of an improved image abroad could have an even greater impact on the economy.
"There will be a big direct injection for the economy", Standard Bank economist Goolam Ballim said after Fifa announced the 2010 host. "But the indirect impact may be more meaningful for a sustainable economic lift in subsequent years ... it will help change the perceptions that a large number of foreign investors hold of Africa and South Africa."
In his 2006 State of the Nation address, President Thabo Mbeki said the World Cup would make a huge contribution, not only to South Africa's socio-economic growth, but to the development of the continent as a whole.
"In return for these irreplaceable benefits, we owe it to Fifa and the rest of the soccer world to prepare properly for 2010," Mbeki said, challenging South Africans to work together to ensure that the country hosts "the best Soccer World Cup ever".
