About 4 000 tickets will go back on the market for the first round of 16 match, between Uruguay and South Korea on Saturday 26 June in Port Elizabeth.

Another 1 000 tickets will be sold for Sunday's match between Argentina and Mexico in Johannesburg's Soccer City.

"These tickets are coming back from teams that were eliminated, such as France or South Africa," says FIFA spokesperson Pekka Odriozola.

Matches played through Friday will decide the tournament's final 16 teams.

South African residents can purchase tickets directly on a first come first served basis from First National Bank branches or from the Cape Town FIFA Ticketing Centre is situated at The Spearhead, 42 Hans Strijdom Avenue, Foreshore. This is open from 09:00 to 18:00 seven days a week.

Customers will be contacted within ten working days after submitting their application to the teller at the FNB branch to confirm whether or not their application has been successful.