South Africans can now buy tickets to see the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Tickets went on sale on Friday 20 February and are available from FIFA’s website and at nationwide branches of First National Bank (FNB), which is a World Cup sponsor. The tickets are to be sold in phases. The first phase runs until 31 March 2009.

Each soccer fan can apply for up to four tickets per match, for up to seven matches, or a four team-specific ticket series of up to seven games for a chosen team.

If demand exceeds supply, tickets for over-subscribed matches and ticket categories will be allocated by a random draw during this phase.

The draw for the 743 965 tickets available during this phase will take place on April 15, 2009, meaning that all ticket applications during the period will be considered equally. Those who have successfully managed to secure tickets will be notified within three days.

Soccer fans who are unable to get tickets during the first round will have more opportunities to purchase tickets in the other phases of ticketing sales. The next phase, from 4 May to 16 November 2009, will be conducted on a first-come-first-served basis.

FIFA is making over three million paid tickets available for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. One million of these have been allocated to FIFA commercial affiliates, hospitality providers and broadcast outlets, and the rest will be available to the general public.

Tickets have been priced to accommodate ordinary South Africans, with the cheapest tickets on sale for R140. These Category 4 tickets – available exclusively for South Africans - will make up a total of 16 percent of tickets sold.

Category 1-3 tickets will be sold both locally and internationally, in dollars, while Category 4 tickets will only be sold in rands. The most expensive Category 1 tickets will cost $900 (R6 300) while the average price of tickets is $139 (R973).

Ticket holders will only be able to collect their tickets at designated ticketing centres in April 2010. Tickets will only be available for collection in South Africa, in order to prevent the black market trade in cheap tickets.

FIFA has also warned soccer fans to be on the lookout for possible counterfeit tickets, and to only buy through FIFA or FNB.


HOW TO APPLY:

Via FNB branches countrywide:

• Complete a Paper Ticket Application Form at any FNB branch across South Africa
• Hand it to an FNB teller for processing
• You will be given an FNB Visa Official Mascot Prepaid Card, which is a unique ticket payment card for successful ticket applicants
• Deposit the money for the tickets you have requested onto the card
• Payment for successful ticket applications will be drawn from the card, and applicants will be notified
• Tickets will be available for collection using the prepaid card

Via FIFA

• Join the FIFA Club free of charge on the FIFA website, which is www.FIFA.com
• Once registered, submit a ticket application
• Follow the steps
• If your application is successful, you will be asked to return to www.FIFA.com to confirm payment details
• Tickets will be available from FIFA Venue Ticketing Centres across South Africa in April 2010, using the payment card registered on your FIFA Club account

Ticket enquiries:
SMS: 083 123 2010
Email: enquires@2010FWCTC.co.za 
Internet: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/ticketing/