FIFA president Sepp Blatter said today that deals for the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa are already 25% bigger than the deals done for the World Cup to take place in Germany this summer.

"The market trusts Africa," Blatter said. "The contracts we have already signed for 2010, they are higher than the contracts for 2006 in Germany - about 25 percent."

Agreements with five strategic partners for 2010 are already valued at more than 1 billion Swiss francs (about $770 million) which dwarfs the 850 million francs done for 2006 with 15 companies.

FIFA won't go into too much detail because partnership deals are concluded on terms of confidentiality. A new, sixth tier sponsor for the 2007-2014 period is also expected.

"They don't know who is going to play in Africa, because the qualification is not made, but they trust Africa" Sepp Blatter went on.

this is great news for South Africa and is sure to spur on Danny Jordaan to make sure he doesn't mess it all up. Egg on face would be an understatement if he can't get this to work.