The first of the five new World Cup 2010 venues to both start construction and be completed is the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will host five group stage matches, one round of 16 tie, one quarterfinal, and the third-place playoff.

The stadium, which is located in the heart of the city of Port Elizabeth, will have a capacity of 46,500 for the World Cup, and afterwards, temporary seating will be taken out to trim the capacity to 44,000.

While the action inside the stadium will certainly be eye-catching, the views outside will be spectacular as well, as the stadium was constructed overlooking the North End Lake, and as the image shows, it’s a very breathtaking view.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was officially opened on June 6, and a month later, the stadium hosted a Vodacom Challenge match between fierce rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Then in November, the stadium hosted a international friendly between South Africa and Japan, which ended with the home side earning a 0-0 draw.

Also during its short existence, the stadium has hosted rugby, Premier Soccer League action, and a part of the Miss World 2009 pageant.

See all 2010 World Cup Stadiums.