BBC SPORT | 2006 WORLD CUP DECISION | Germany win World Cup vote

Germany will host the 2006 World Cup after beating favourites South Africa in a head-to-head vote at Fifa headquarters in Zurich.

The surprise announcement was made by Sepp Blatter, president of world football's governing body.

England's bid had been eliminated in an earlier ballot, along with that of outsiders Morocco.

After two rounds of voting South Africa and Germany were neck and neck with 11 votes each.

Bobby Charlton and Alec McGivan
England's campaign team knew the game was up
But in the third and final ballot, Germany claimed 12 votes, with South Africa receiving 11. There was one abstention.

"It was the closest it could possibly be," Blatter said of the vote.

It will be the 10th time football's showpiece tournament will be held in Europe. It has never been staged in Africa.

England mustered five of the 24 first round votes - but in the second stage of the ballot, with Morocco out of the race, the English bid managed just two votes.

First round voting

Germany 10

South Africa 6

England 5

Morocco 3

Germany made an impressive late surge in the campaign - culminating in a star-studded presentation to the 24 Fifa delegates on Wednesday, which mixed glamour with political clout.

Bid ambassador Franz Beckenbauer was joined in Zurich by some world-famous figures, including supermodel Claudia Schiffer, tennis star Boris Becker and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

England's first-round support is understood to have come from Scotland's David Will as well as Charles Dempsey of New Zealand and the three Central American representatives.

Just before the early voting results were announced, South Africa's delegation admitted they were facing defeat.

Second round voting

Germany 11

South Africa 11

England 2

Terry Paine, former England international who now lives in South Africa said: "I believe it's all over.

"That is what I have heard. It is very bad news."

Moroccan bid president Driss Benhima, said he too feared the worst.

"Last night South Africa were sky-high. This morning they are very depressed. I fear Germany has won," he said.


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