# Vuvuzela at the 2010 World Cup

> Sainsbury's reported 22,000 horn sales as World Cup noise became an online joke.

- Owner: null
- Kind: Moment
- Sector: Sports
- Seed date: 2010-06-11
- Observed peak date: 2010-06-15
- Date basis: Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum.
- Spread Score: 50 (Notable, provisional), v1.3
- Mechanics: Controversy, Platform jump, Press loop, Visible in use

## Summary

Vuvuzela noise filled World Cup broadcasts before becoming online jokes. Ban demands met a defence of South African fan culture, while apps and YouTube reproduced the sound. Google placed the early-tournament search peak on June 15.

## Timeline

- 2010-06-11 — World Cup spectators (TV) — Vuvuzela horns sounded in World Cup broadcasts as the tournament opened.
- 2010-06-14 — World Cup organising committee (Press) — Organisers ruled out a ban and urged visiting supporters to take the horns home.
- 2010-06-14 — Sainsbury's / horn suppliers (Retail) — Sainsbury's reported 22,000 horn sales before England's opener as British shops ran out.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/vuvuzela-2010

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Vuvuzela at the 2010 World Cup.” Case HIS-01625. Spread Score v1.3: 50/100. Updated 2026-10-23. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01625