On display will football's elite, with teams from the four corners of the earth set to dazzle and amaze the millions keeping tabs on their every move.
Some will freeze in the glare of the global spotlight, with their performances quickly consigned to the history books.
For others, though, superstardom beckons, with the world ready to embrace new heroes - whoever they may be.
With so much talent on show, there can be no doubting that profiles will be raised, price tags will soar and shirt sales will boom.
This is, after all, the World Cup and it deserves to be graced by the biggest names football has to offer.
Unfortunately, for some the dream of strutting their stuff in South Africa has already been dashed, with next summer set to see them jetting off to Dubai and Perth rather than Durban and Pretoria.
The likes of Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Forlan and Andrey Arshavin could all yet be forced to re-arrange their plans, with the play-offs holding the key to their fate, but at least their destiny remains in their own hands.
Others are not so fortunate, so here skysports.com's Chris Burton takes a look at a few of those who will be booking their holidays in 2010 as far away from the action as possible.
Emmanuel Adebayor - Togo
One of the most fearsome frontmen in the Premier League, Adebayor has established a glowing reputation over recent years. He is widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of his trade in European football, with his physical stature complemented perfectly by a deft touch and keen eye for goal. The Manchester City ace has already graced the World Cup, in 2006, but he misses out this time around following Togo's failure to secure a safe passage through qualification. As such, he is likely to make for a reluctant audience when a number of his City team-mates return to Eastlands with tall tales of their exploits in South Africa.
Yossi Benayoun - Israel
It is fair to say that the 2009/10 campaign has not gone entirely to plan for those on Liverpool's books. Lofty pre-season ambitions have been doused in spectacular style, with the Reds in danger of seeing their season fizzle out to nothing. One of few bright sparks for the Anfield outfit this term have been the performances of Israeli playmaker Benayoun. He appears to have convinced Rafa Benitez that he deserves to be an integral part of the side and has established a reputation as a firm fans' favourite on the banks of The Kop. Nothing would have pleased him more than showing the rest of the world precisely what he is capable of, but he appears to have little to look forward to in 2010.
Dimitar Berbatov - Bulgaria
Much-maligned for his laid back attitude which can, at times, make it appear as if he is just going through the motions, no-one can doubt the ability possessed by Berbatov. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a pretty decent judge of character and he decided that the languid Bulgarian was worth £30million last summer. Berbatov's Old Trafford career has been a bit up and down since then, but he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of. So at ease with a ball at his feet, the burly frontman is capable of jaw-dropping brilliance when the mood takes him. A more than impressive strike rate at international level suggests he did all he could to get Bulgaria to the finals next year, with those around him perhaps letting him down.
Petr Cech - Czech Republic
The best goalkeeper in the world some might say, but Cech will not be given the opportunity to live up that lofty standing next summer. Instead, he will be forced to watch the heirs to that throne - the likes of Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon - from afar. Cech would have welcomed the chance to showcase his considerable abilities, following an indifferent showing at Euro 2008, but he will be among the minority reporting early for pre-season training at Chelsea ahead of the 2010/11 campaign.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Sweden
Such talent deserves to be on display in South Africa, but football can be an unforgiving business. Therefore, Ibrahimovic is among the biggest names to have seen their star extinguished long before the action gets underway. Often put in the same bracket as Berbatov, due to his sometimes nonchalant approach, the towering frontman's outward persona hides God-given talent. Some questioned Barcelona's decision this summer to offer the free-scoring Samuel Eto'o to Inter Milan in exchange for Ibrahimovic's services, but that move has been more than justified by the Swede's electrifying start to life at Camp Nou and the new-found harmony which exists within Pep Guardiola's star-studded squad.
Colin Kazim-Richards - Turkey
Kazim-Richards probably afforded himself a wry smile when he was selected in Turkey's Euro 2008 squad. After all, having been born and raised in deepest darkest London, surely international honours were supposed to follow with England. Instead, he turned his back on the land of his birth and opted to turn out for the home of his mother. It appeared to be a wise call as England toiled and ultimately failed in their efforts to reach Austria and Switzerland under the brolly-wielding Steve McClaren. The tables have turned now, though, with the Three Lions blazing a trail en route to South Africa and Turkey having stumbled their way to third spot in their qualification group.
Jari Litmanen - Finland
Over the years there have been numerous of examples of players who have been forced to miss out on deserved appearances at major finals due to their nationality - think George Best, Ian Rush, George Weah and Ryan Giggs. You can add to that list the name of Finnish legend Litmanen, who has illuminated European football for more than two decades. Anyone who can boast Barcelona, Ajax and Liverpool on their CV obviously has a bit about them and it is shame that Litmanen, who is now 38, appears to have missed his opportunity to grace the grandest stage of all.
Luka Modric - Croatia
Having seen his 2009/10 campaign blighted by a broken leg, Modric will be disappointed to have seen his summer slate wiped clean. He would have been among the freshest legs in South Africa, as he continues to work his way back to full fitness, but Croatia surprisingly failed to follow England out of Group Six. Slaven Bilic's side made many friends at Euro 2008, and looked destined to be a European force to be reckoned with for years to come, but they never got going during their latest qualification campaign.
Adrian Mutu - Romania
Often among the headlines, and not always for the best of reasons, Mutu is an iconic figure in European football. His eventful spell at Chelsea, and the hefty compensation claim which continues to hang over his head following his sacking by the club, will make him most recognisable to followers of English football, but it is in Italy where he has demonstrated the more pleasant side of his character. Spells at Inter Milan, Verona, Parma, Juventus and Fiorentina have helped him to become one of the star attractions in Serie A, with his goalscoring record beyond dispute. He is another, such as Ibrahimovic and Berbatov, who possesses enigmatic abilities capable of leaving spectators flabbergasted or frustrated.
Antonio Valencia - Ecuador
With Valencia's reputation having only really taken off since he arrived in England with Wigan in 2006, it is easy to forget that he has already featured at a World Cup finals. In fact, he was one of Ecuador's star performers in Germany that year. He was shortlisted for the Team of the Tournament and the Young Player of the Tournament award. His performances helped him to catch the eye of the Latics and he moved to the Premier League shortly after. He has since secured a big-money switch to Manchester United, but he was unable to help his country progress out of the fiercely-competitive South American qualifying section and must watch on with the rest of us when the World Cup gets underway in June.
Source : SkySports
