FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert

Before the top international football teams battle in out on the field for this year’s FIFA World Cup Trophy, Alicia Keys, The Black Eyed Peas and Shakira will get the party started on stage with the inaugural FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert.

The concert takes place June 10, the evening before the opening match, at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 2010 FIFA World Cup marks the first year the competition has ever taken place in Africa. The event is scheduled to take place between June 11 and July 11.

Photo: Owen Sweeney / OwenSweeneyPhoto.com

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

Along with international musicians, the show will also feature performances from African artists, in addition to appearances by football legends and other celebrities.

The lineup also includes Amadou & Mariam, Angelique Kidjo, BLK JKS,John Legend, Juanes, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Toure and Vusi Mahlasela. Additional artists will be added soon.

If you’re not one of the 30,000 fans in the Orlando Stadium audience June 10, you can catch the concert on TV as it will be broadcast to hundreds of millions worldwide.

Photo: AP Photo

New Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

“We are thrilled to have a concert of such magnitude and performing talent raise the curtain on the first FIFA World Cup in Africa. It is testament to the universal and unifying power of football and music, and will start the competition off on the right note – of celebration,” FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said in a statement.

The concert is being organized and produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Kevin Wall and his company Control Room, which helped pull off Live Earth 2007.

“We believe sports and music transcend cultural, language and geographic barriers, and through the official FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert, we will present the sights and sounds of unity and celebration for an unforgettable, must-see experience,” Wall said.

Photo: John Davisson

Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.

Tickets are on sale as of today and can be purchased online at www.computicket.com or by telephone at (27) 083 915 8000.

All net proceeds from the concert go towards 20 Centres For 2010, the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. The organization wants to build 20 centres across Africa that would offer education and healthcare services as well as football training to disadvantaged communities.

The FIFA World Cup was founded in 1930 and has taken place every four years since then excluding competitions in 1942 and 1946 because of World War II. The most recent championship, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, was held in Germany. The 2014 World Cup takes place in Brazil.

Click here to order tickets for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert.

Click here for FIFA’s Web site.