While the names of various host cities were being changed, they would be coupled with their former names for international purposes.

"We have agreed on the name changes proposed by various host cities, that they will be used within South Africa," Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman, Irvin Khoza, told reporters here.

"But for international purpose it was important we use double-barrel names, a combination of both old and new names for the cities."

The South African government has been systematically re-baptising places since coming to power after the fall of the whites-only apartheid regime in 1994, seeking to remove titles deemed offensive and to honour black heroes.

The process has been fraught with emotion from sectors of society who felt their culture was being marginalised in the process, while others fear the process could cause global confusion ahead of the World Cup.

"It will take years and years for the marketing plan that has been established to sensitize the world on these name changes, to deal with issues of the maps and issues of souvenir shops around the world in educating the international public on the names that have been adopted.

"We also agreed that both names will appear on tickets issued for the tournament in 2010," Khoza added.

Of the 10 cities presented to FIFA to host the event, those affected by the process are Mangaung (Bloemfontein), Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth), and Tshwane (capital Pretoria).

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said the country would use the FIFA preliminary draw, to be held in the coastal city of Durban on November 25, to show the world its readiness.

"It (the draw) gives the world the first image of what will be the World Cup in South Africa. The world's eyes will be on South Africa."

He said preparations were "on track" although stadiums in Cape Town and Mandela Bay were running "a few weeks late".

"But we are confident they will be ready in time for the Confederation Cup in 2009," he said.