Hosting the 2010 soccer World Cup would boost South Africa's global image and unite the country further, former president Nelson Mandela said on Friday.

Speaking after a meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Mandela underlined the importance of South Africa's bid to stage the 2010 finals.

"It is going to mean a great deal because we have been wanting this (World) Cup to be played in South Africa (for a long time)," said Mandela.

"When you have an important international game being played in a country, you spread the message that South Africa is part of the global world."

Having lost to Germany by 12 votes to 11 for the right to stage the 2006 World Cup finals, South Africa last month submitted a bid, along with Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, to host the event in 2010, which will be held in Africa for the first time as part of FIFA's rotation policy.

The country staged a friendly with England in May to show its capability to host major soccer internationals.

South Africa also hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and Mandela, now 85, said the tournament had united the country and helped in the quest to overcome apartheid.

"The Rugby World Cup was played in South Africa in 1995 and it united both the black and the white (people in the country)," he said.

"We achieved a great deal with that World Cup."

Mandela, who was presented with a trophy to signify the Order of Merit he was previously awarded by FIFA, believes hosting the 2010 soccer World Cup could have a similar effect on South Africa.

"An international game played in any country has an immense benefit," said Mandela, who was accompanied by Danny Jordaan, the general secretary of the South African Football Federation, on his trip to Switzerland.

"South Africa is now part of the global world, but not everyone in South Africa is aware of this.

"You are going to raise the spirit of many people, some of who are so not alert to know about the games that are being played in South Africa -- rugby, cricket, soccer. Sport unites everybody."