Former England striker Wayne Rooney has described the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as the worst tournament experience of his career, citing a lack of atmosphere and fan presence.
The competition, staged on African soil for the first time, remains a historic milestone in global football.
It culminated in Spain lifting their maiden World Cup title after defeating the Netherlands in the final.
Despite its significance and enduring global appeal, Rooney offered a contrasting view of the tournament.
Speaking on The Overlap Podcast, the former Manchester United forward criticised the overall atmosphere, suggesting it lacked the vibrant energy typically associated with the World Cup.
“You’re not getting worse than South Africa, you’re not…it’s pitch black, there’s no fans.”
“You know when you go [to] the World Cup, there’s fans everywhere, you feel the atmosphere, nothing. No, it just didn’t feel like a World Cup,” he added.
Rooney featured for the England national football team during the tournament, where the Three Lions exited at the Round of 16 following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Germany.
