FIFA allocates more tickets

Selling at R140 each, Category 4 tickets are the cheapest and automatically the most preferred by most poor soccer fans. FIFA had initially allocated only 11 per cent of ticket sales to the category, but was last week forced to add another 18 per cent, after most fans and South African trade unions complained. We have increased the allocation of Category 4 tickets from the initial 11 per cent to a new figure of 29 per cent, LOC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Danny Jordaan told the media during a press conference in Johannesburg late last week.

We want this World Cup to be truly African, hence our latest move is meant to ensure that more of the cheapest match tickets are made available to ordinary fans, who cannot afford any other category tickets.

FIFA said that the increase will see an additional 700 000 tickets made available to poor soccer fans when the next phase of ticket sales opens next month, where tickets will be sold over the counter. To make up for the increase in Category 4 tickets, Jordaan said that they had simultaneously decreased those in Category 2 and 3. FIFAs latest move was last week praised by South Africas ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, which described it as a step in the right direction. With the huge challenge of high levels of poverty and unemployment still facing South Africa a host country for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup we believe that the price ticket reduction will go a long way in ensuring affordability, said party spokesman, Brian Sokutu.

While we are fully behind the success of South Africas hosting of the FIFA World Cup the first in an African soil – we have been concerned about whether many local fans will afford to pay for the tickets. Already, 3 million available tickets have been sold, while South Africans have been responsible for 79 per cent of the 1.2million applications for tickets in the third phase of sales, which ended on January 22. The World Cup tickets are being sold in four categories, and the price depends on the location in the stadium as well as the stage of the tournament. Group games are more affordable than those in the elimination rounds.

Category 4 tickets are reserved exclusively for South African residents are may only be bought using the local currency and applicants must provide proof of residence as a security measure. The remaining three categories are available to all, both local residents and international visitors. Prices range from R140 ($20) for a Category 4 group match ticket, to R6 300 ($632) for a Category 1 ticket alongside the field at the final. The cheapest ticket for the final is Category 4, at R1 050 ($105). Tickets for the opening game are priced from R490 ($49) for Category 4, to R3 150 ($316) for Category 1.