FIFA and Sony have today announced that the 2010 World Cup will be the first to be produced in 3D.
The World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa from June 11th to July 11th, will feature a total of 64 games - 25 of which will be produced using Sony's 3D cameras, resulting in "action that is unprecedented in depth, vividness and excitement," says football's governing body.
Following the announcement, analysts are already predicting a rapid increase in the uptake of the 3D TVs expected to flood the market in 2010. London-based analysis firm Screen Digest now estimates that 13.6m 3D TVs will be installed in Europe by 2013.
Football fans, however, may have to wait to get their eyes on the three-dimensional action. There are currently no plans to broadcast the event in live 3D, and FIFA will host "International FIFA Fan Fest" viewing events in just seven cities around the world; Berlin, London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio De Janeiro, Roma and Sydney, allowing fans to view promotional trailers of the World Cup in 3D.
Sony and FIFA will then produce an official 3D film, with "images that convey the action and emotion of the World Cup to viewers around the world". Sony Pictures has confirmed that it plans to produce the official World Cup 3D film on Blu-ray disc and other formats.
The majority of the UK might still be trying to get to grips with high-definition, but it looks as though 3D is already here to stay. Can we bare to watch England go out on penalties in such vivid detail?
In related news, the 2010 FIFA World Cup draw takes place tomorrow at 5pm GMT at Cape Town's International Convention Centre.
