World Cup 2010: David Beckham gets his own website channel on Yahoo Sport

David Beckham, ruled out of the World Cup by injury, has teamed up with Yahoo! to contribute to its coverage of the tournament.

Former England captain David Beckham has agreed a deal with Yahoo! to comment on the World Cup

The internet giant that the 35-year-old former England skipper will share his thoughts on the World Cup on a "David Beckham channel" on Yahoo! Sports.

The midfielder will also be featured in a Yahoo! marketing campaign, the California-based internet company said.

"Yahoo! will allow me to interact one on one with as many football fans as possible talking about the game I love," Beckham said in a statement.

"David's experience in three consecutive World Cup championships combined with his club experience in both Europe and the USA gives him a unique perspective on football and the World Cup," said Yahoo! chief marketing officer Elisa Steele.

Beckham's hopes of playing in the World Cup inSouth Africa were dashed by an Achilles tendon injury.

By Telegraph staff and agencies

World Cup 2010 Groups and Schedule

World Cup Group A

11 June - 4.00pm Johannesburg South Africa - Mexico
11 June - 8.30pm Cape Town Uruguay - France
16 June - 8.30pm Pretoria South Africa - Uruguay
17 June - 8.30pm Polokwane France - Mexico
22 June - 4.00pm Rustenburg Mexico - Uruguay
22 June - 4.00pm Bloemfontein France - South Africa

World Cup Group B

12 June - 4.00pm Johannesburg Argentina - Nigeria
12 June - 1.30pm Port Elizabeth Korea Republic - Greece
17 June - 4.00pm Bloemfontein Greece - Nigeria
17 June - 1.30pm Johannesburg Argentina - Korea Republic
22 June - 8.30pm Durban Nigera - Korea Republic
22 June - 8.30pm Polokwane Greece - Argentina

World Cup Group C

12 June - 8.30pm Rustenburg England - United States
13 June - 1.30pm Polokwane Algeria - Slovenia
18 June - 4.00pm Johannesburg Slovenia - USA
18 June - 8.30pm Cape Town England - Algeria
23 June - 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Slovenia - England
23 June - 4.00pm Pretoria USA - Algeria

World Cup Group D

13 June - 8.30pm Johannesburg Germany - Australia
13 June - 4.00pm Pretoria Serbia - Ghana
18 June - 1.30pm Port Elizabeth Germany - Serbia
19 June - 4.00pm Rustenburg Ghana - Australia
23 June - 8.30pm Johannesburg Ghana - Germany
23 June - 8.30pm Nelspruit Australia - Serbia

World Cup Group E

14 June - 1.30pm Johannesburg Netherlands - Denmark
14 June - 4.00pm Bloemfontein Japan - Cameroon
19 June - 1.30pm Durban Netherlands - Japan
19 June - 8.30pm Pretoria Cameroon - Denmark
24 June - 8.30pm Rustenburg Denmark - Japan
24 June - 8.30pm Cape Town Cameroon - Netherlands

World Cup Group F

14 June - 8.30pm Cape Town Italy - Paraguay
15 June - 1.30pm Rustenburg New Zealand - Slovakia
20 June - 1.30pm Bloemfontein Slovakia - Paraguay
20 June - 4.00pm Nelspruit Italy - New Zealand
24 June - 4.00pm Johannesburg Slovakia - Italy
24 June - 4.00pm Polokwane Paraguay - New Zealand

World Cup Group G

15 June - 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Ivory Coast - Portugal
15 June - 8.30pm Johannesburg Brazil - Korea DPR
20 June - 8.30pm Johannesburg Brazil - Ivory Coast
21 June - 1.30pm Cape Town Portugal - Korea DPR
25 June - 4.00pm Durban Portugal - Brazil
25 June - 4.00pm Nelspruit Korea DPR - Ivory Coast

World Cup Group H

16 June - 1.30pm Nelspruit Honduras - Chile
16 June - 4.00pm Durban Spain - Switzerland
21 June - 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Chile - Switzerland
21 June - 8.30pm Johannesburg Spain - Honduras
25 June - 8.30pm Pretoria Chile - Spain
25 June - 8.30pm Bloemfontein Switzerland - Honduras

Zakumi, the mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Zakumi, the mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

The official mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is Zakumi (born 16 June 1994 (1994-06-16) (age 15)), an anthropomorphised leopard with green hair, presented on 22 September 2008. His name comes from "ZA", the international abbreviation for South Africa, and "kumi", a word that means "ten" in various African languages।The mascot's colours reflect those of the host nation's playing strip – yellow and green.

Zakumi's birthdate coincides with a day known and celebrated as Youth Day in South Africa and their second group match. The year 1994 marks the first non-racial nationwide elections in South Africa. He will turn 16 in 2010. Andries Odendaal, from Cape Town, created the original character design.

Zakumi's official motto is: "Zakumi's game is Fair Play." The motto was seen in the digital advertisement boards during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and it will also appear at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A contract for the manufacture of Zakumi figurines was awarded to a company owned Dr. Shiaan-Bin Huan, who is an ANC representative member in the South African parliament. The manufacture of the figurines was outsourced to Shanghai Fashion Plastic Products in the PRC. The value of the contract was in excess of USD 112 million[citation needed]. Due to concerns over the loss of jobs in the South African manufacturing sector, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has suggested that more 2010 merchandise be sourced locally. Allegation of sweatshop conditions at the Shanghai Fashion Plastic Products factory led to an audit by Global Brands Group (master licensee of the Fifa World Cup 2010 brand), which revealed a number of non-compliance issues with GBC policies. The manufacturer denied the allegations of sweatshop conditions and claimed that the working conditions at the Shanghai Fashion Plastic Products factory were "very good"