Thaindian News

Johannesburg, Feb 20 (DPA) Tickets for the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa went on sale Friday, 475 days before the opening game slated for June 11 next year.
The tickets are being sold on the website of world football body FIFA and through South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB), a sponsor of the tournament.

In total, around three million purchasable tickets will be available for the tournament, which is being held for the first time on the African continent. Some 740,000 tickets are up for grabs from Friday.

Football fans in South Africa can buy tickets at FNB branches nationwide at the start of business. Overseas fans can log onto www.fifa.com to buy tickets online. This is the first of the five phases of ticket sales.

This phase, which runs until March 31, is not on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning aficionados of the beautiful game applying at any time during that period will have an equal chance of scoring a ticket.

Tickets for games that are oversubscribed will be entered into a draw that takes place April 15.

Supporters who apply for tickets to follow a team that does not qualify for the tournament will be automatically reimbursed.

The tickets, which range in price from $80 to $900 for international visitors, will only be available for collection from April 2010, in South Africa.

All the cheapest category-four tickets are reserved for South African residents. FIFA is hoping around 450,000 fans will travel to the tournament.