World Cup: Mandela to attend opener, final

Nelson Mandela will attend next week's World Cup opener between Mexico and host South Africa, government officials confirmed Thursday.

Earlier reports said the 91-year-old former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner was thought to be too frail to brave what are expected to be chilly temperatures at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

Now, however, Makhankesi Stofile, South Africa's Minister of Sport and Recreation, is saying Mandela has requested four tickets to the game -- a request he quickly honored. Mandela is also expected to attend the Cup final on July 11.

-- Kevin Baxter in Brussels