The tags will appear on clothing and merchandise for the tournament, which takes place in South Africa. The items will include easily authenticated holograms and SLSNet – an online ordering and tracking system.

FIFA enforcement officials will be able to scan the tags to certify the garments' authenticity. The tags will also enable buyers to identify legitimate FIFA merchandise.

The association is currently setting up a network of globally branded stores in preparation for the 2010 tournament. It is claimed that there were no instances of hologram counterfeiting during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

De La Rue marketing communications manager Clare Walsh said: "The tags are a three-pronged prevention measure for counterfeiting. The public can identify them in stores; FIFA officials can check them in stores; and forensic workers can check authenticity in the lab."

Thierry Weil, FIFA's director of marketing, said: "Merchandising has become a big part of the football experience. The quality seals produced by De La Rue make it easy for any supporter to identify the original official items while guaranteeing the integrity of our licensing programme worldwide."