Twenty-five matches of the World Cup 2010 will be filmed in 3D using Sony’s 3D broadcast technology. Sony is currently in talks with broadcasters aimed at delivering the content live in 3D around the world.

April 8, 2010 — Preparations are well underway for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in South Africa from June 11. In the tradition of sporting events being used to pioneer new broadcast technologies, such as Japanese broadcaster NHK’s test HDTV transmissions from the 1988 Summer Olympics, Sony plans to record 25 of the football tournament’s matches in 3D (see list below).

As well as making this content available for public viewing in various worldwide locations, Sony hopes to reach agreements with a number of broadcasters so that viewers can see the games in 3D from the comfort of their living room. So far, Sony has reached agreements with ESPN in the US and Sogecable in Spain.

It remains to be seen whether Sky 3D will carry the content, but the UK and European football seasons will end early this summer, leaving a perfect gap for 3D World Cup matches. In any case, Sky has said that Sky 3D will only go out to private users this Autumn; in the meantime, any 3D broadcasts can presumably only be watched in pubs.

3D matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup:

1. June 11 — 16.00: South Africa v Mexico
2. June 12 — 16.00: Argentina v Nigeria
3. June 13 — 20.30: Germany v Australia
4. June 14 — 13.30: Netherlands v Denmark
5. June 15 — 20.30: Brazil v North Korea
6. June 16 — 16.00: Spain v Switzerland
7. June 17 — 13.30: Argentina v South Korea
8. June 18 — 16.00: Slovenia v USA
9. June 19 — 13.30: Netherlands v Japan
10. June 20 — 20.30: Brazil v Ivory Coast
11. June 21 — 20.30: Spain v Honduras
12. June 22 — 20.30: Nigeria v South Korea
13. June 23 — 20.30: Ghana v Germany
14. June 24 — 16.00: Slovakia v Italy
15. June 25 — 16.00: Portugal v Brazil

16. June 27 — 20.30: 1st B v 2nd A
17. June 28 — 16.00: 1st E v 2nd F
18. June 28 — 20.30: 1st G v 2nd H

19. July 2 — 20.30: Quarter finals
20. July 3 — 16.00: Quarter finals
21. July 3 — 20.30: Quarter finals
22. July 6 — 20.30: Semi finals
23. July 7 — 20.30: Semi finals

24. July 10 — 20.30: 3rd place match
25. July 11 — 20.30: Final