"Our time has come. We deserve to stage the World Cup. That is certainly the feeling across South Africa," said leading daily The Star in a front-page editorial.
The sentiment was echoed by the country's largest-selling paper The Sowetan.
"We want it. As you and your FIFA team set foot in our country, you can be assured of the undivided passion of South Africa to host this epic soccer showpiece, a passion representative of the entire continent," the paper said.
A six-strong FIFA delegation were beginning their technical investigation of the country's ability to handle the competition later on Thursday in Johannesburg.
Thousands of jobs and billions of rand hang in the balance as FIFA takes its last long look at the country, which is vying with Brazil, England, Germany and Morocco to host the event.
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has said it is Africa's turn to host the event but South Africa must convince FIFA that its high crime rate is not an obstacle to the competition's success.
South Africa's bid team reckon that the Cup could win the country $4.6 billion in revenues and create 129,000 jobs - a massive shot in the arm for an economy where a third of the labour force lack formal work.
Reuters
