Football: World Cup stadiums 100 days before kick-off

Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Provincial premier Helen Zille feared that future generations would never forgive her if this locally resisted stadium spoiled the view of Table Mountain. Fortunately it’s a world class masterpiece, wrapped in noise-reducing cladding that blends exquisitely into its surroundings Construction new Capacity 66,005 First match 11 June, Group A, Uruguay v France Still to do Local transport is still being finalised Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images Photograph: David Rogers/guardian.co.uk Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg The ’Touch Down Restaurant’ testifies that this is a rugby citadel, witness to the Springboks’ 1995 Mandela-inspired World Cup win. A new tier on the north stand has increased seating capacity. Functional rather than beautiful Construction minor upgrade Capacity 61,639 First match 12 June, Group B, Argentina v Nigeria Still to do The pitch looked sandy after hammering by rugby teams Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Conjured the best atmosphere on last week’s official tour with hundreds of football fans singing and dancing, though rugby posts were still in place. Upgraded from a capacity of 38,000 to 45,000 during refurbishments, spread over two efficient tiers Construction medium upgrade Capacity 45,058 First match 14 June, Group E, Japan v Cameroon Still to do Access roads need to be finished Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/guardian.co.uk Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria One of the oldest stadiums in South Africa, used for major sporting events since 1903. Has undergone perennial upgrades since 1948 and been used for both football and rugby. Won’t win awards for architecture but has a compact feel despite its size Construction upgrade Capacity 49,365 First match 13 June, Group D, Serbia v Ghana Still to do Cultivating the pitch once the rugby players have gone Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit Striking for the 18 giant tension rods that resemble giraffe necks and the black and white seats striped like a zebra; this is, after all, Kruger Park country. Players should bring sunglasses for the lurid green and blue changing room interiors Construction new Capacity 43,589 First match 16 June, Group H, Honduras v Chile Still to do The pitch is still an arid dustbowl for birds after two failed attempts to grow quality grass Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/guardian.co.uk Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban A cable car ascends to a viewing platform at the top of a 350m, German-built grad arch, 106m above the pitch. The arch is also open to walkers and bungee jumpers. A fibre-coated roof from Mexico covers 95% of spectators, while the seats are in blue, green, white and orange to represent the ocean and sunrise Construction new Capacity 69,957 First match 13 June, Group D, Germany v Australia Still to do New grass has to be laid for what will be the South African winter Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth Set on the shores of a lake, another spectacular with a roof that looks like a sunflower - sort of - designed to resist high winds. The seats are bold red and orange, the pitch a vibrant green. Twelve Chinese workers installed up to 1,000 seats per day Construction new Capacity 46,082 First match 12 June, Group B, South Korea v Greece Still to do The city mayor says that some access roads are “75% there”, others “95%”. He’s still awaiting buses imported from Brazil Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Alexander Joe/guardian.co.uk Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane The design is inspired by the locally famed baobab tree with giant “trunk” structures in each corner. The red, brown and orange seats form a pattern that resembles mountains and are nearly on top of the pitch. The dressing rooms contain mini football pitches Construction new Capacity 45,264 First match 13 June, Group C, Algeria v Slovenia Still to do Find a purpose once the World Cup is over Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg England’s campaign will start in modest trapping that would feel intimate but for an athletics track. Most of the stands are relatively squat two-tier affairs. The neighbourhood is gritty shacks and fish and chips Construction minor upgrade Capacity 44,530 First match 12 June, Group C, England v USA Still to do The road from Sun City is potholed, but a local official has promised to resign if it’s not finished in time Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images Photograph: Gallo Images/guardian.co.uk Soccer City, Johannesburg Could be a spaceship from the South African sci-fi hit District 9, but is actually based on the African cooking pot known as the calabash, all the more spectacular at night. A true jewel in the crown and worthy host of the opening match and final Construction major upgrade Capacity 88,460 First match 11 June, Group A, South Africa v Mexico Still to do The half-paved approach to the stadium is a building site populated by men in orange bibs, cranes and piles of rubbish Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk