In an interview granted to FIFA.com its President Sep Blatter took time to give his view on 2010 and its progress leading up to the 500-day celebrations.

Do you think that the global economic crisis will have an impact on the preparations for the FIFA World Cup?

No, it will not have an impact because the FIFA World Cup will take place. The budgets have been composed, given and ratified. Naturally we might not have the same return of investment as we had at the last World Cup in 2006, but the world was a different place then. For FIFA, it’s not important to get money out of Africa, but it’s important to us that the Africans enjoy organising their own World Cup – and they will. A lot of big footballers such as Pele, Platini, Cruijff and Beckenbauer say that primarily football is a game – and secondly a business. For FIFA it’s not a business – it is a game of association football.

One of FIFA’s core aims is to build a better future and it is starting to bear fruit now through different projects, especially in Africa. What is FIFA’s mission?

Nowadays, football is so popular around the world. Through football, we touch about 1 billion people in every part of the world. It gives emotions, hope and it brings people together. It helps build a better future for people because it is more than just kicking a ball. It is an education. It is a school life, based on discipline and respect. So, when you play football, you might not become a big star, but you become a better human being.

What legacy does FIFA want to leave in Africa?

There will be a double legacy. There will be the one in South Africa. Through the competition, there will be extremely tight security, just as there is at the Olympic Games and other huge sporting events. We hope that this security will be maintained after the World Cup in order to ensure that we have left a legacy. The other legacy is for the whole of Africa to be proud and say that they have organised the world’s most important sporting event: the FIFA World Cup.

In terms of this legacy, how important is the ‘Win in Africa with Africa’ initiative?

We can only offer possibilities to develop football in Africa, but it is up to the African’s themselves to develop their own game. Everyone has to do their own homework. FIFA can offer a lot of incentives like courses etc, but the homework must be done by all the national associations. They will do it because they have done it in the past and I am sure they will do it in the future. I hope that we have an African team reaching the semi-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but it is not an easy thing because of the level of competition from Europe, South America and Asia. Combined, Europe and South America have more than half the participants for the World Cup, so mathematically it will be easier for them to make the semi-finals.

But are you confident that one day an African team will reach the semi-finals?

One day, they will be there, I just hope that it will be in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Is there anything you wish to add?

Yes, that we trust in the African’s ability to organise an event of this magnitude. Trust will give them confidence. If they have confidence, they will be better in the future. This is my personal wish as the President of FIFA.