South Africa president Jacob Zuma and Fifa president Sepp Blatter speak on stage during Thursday's World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg
American group the Black Eyed Peas perform an energetic set at the pre-tournament event
American singer Alicia Keys also wows the crowd at the star-studded charity concert which ends with many of the singers, including Shakira, back on stage for a final song
Earlier on Thursday, final preparations were being made to the pitch at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg for Friday's opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico - other teams were also busy before their opening games
Argentina coach and World Cup legend Maradona jokes with some of his squad members as they train in Pretoria
Robinho and Kaka cheer on their Brazil team-mates during training session at Randburg School in Johannesburg
The Ivory Coast squad, with injured striker Didier Drogba wearing a sling, arrive at Johannesburg's O.R Tambo airport
Musicians and dancers welcome Switzerland's squad as they arrive at their team base, the Emerald Resort in Vanderbijlpark
France and Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka opts to try his luck with a very different looking ball during a training session at the Fields of Dreams stadium in Knysna
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon trains with the controversial World Cup ball, at Southdowns College in Irene, south of Pretoria
England captain Steven Gerrard appears in front of the media and a backdrop of coach Fabio Capello
It appears by the serious look on Netherlands striker Robin van Persie's face that the World Cup has already started - here the Arsenal hot-shot is involved in a charity game for disadvantaged youth
Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o and Trabzonspor defender Rigobert Song lead the way as Cameroon train at the Northlands Primary School in northern Durban - The Indomitable Lions face Japan on Monday
Having arrived in South Africa, reigning World champions Italy are put through their paces by coach Marcello Lippi (foreground) at Southdown College in Irene, south of Pretoria
Colombian singer Shakira teaches children at Isu'lihle primary school in Soweto the dance moves to the official World Cup song
Football fever continues to grip the nation. Including here, amongst the Children of the Khayelitsha Township near Cape Town
The partisan home support turn out en masse to welcome the Bafana Bafana as they arrive by bus in Johannesburg ahead of Friday's opening match with Mexico
Chile's Alexis Sanchez and New Zealand's Tony Lochhead fight for the ball as the South American side ease to a 2-0 win in the warm-up encounter
Japan midfielder Junichi Inamoto is tackled by Atsuto Uchida during a training session on Wednesday at the waterlogged Outeniqua Park Stadium in George
England boss Fabio Capello fumes at a group of cameramen and photographers at England's training base on Wednesday morning after finding them in a private area
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