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More than half-a-million tickets have already been bought for the World Cup, and the opening and final matches are already sold out.
Irvin Khoza, chairman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa said he was overwhelmed by the tremendous response to the world cup ticket sale
TICKETS for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ are selling fast, with more than half-a-million ticket applications made online worldwide by 3 March.
They went on sale on 20 February and so far more than 506 000 ticket applications from over 140 countries have been made online via the FIFA website. This number excludes hard paper applications made by South African residents at FNB branches.
Tickets to the opening and final matches of the football spectacular have been sold out.
"The tremendous response is extremely exciting and gives us a great deal of confidence," said Irvin Khoza, the chairman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee South Africa (OC). "It is now even more important for us to ensure that the FIFA Confederations Cup will be a success. As the tournament approaches, we will continue to promote the tournament vigorously and ensure all South Africans embrace this exciting FIFA World Cup appetiser."
But Khoza warned South Africans that overseas applications for the World Cup beat local sales by 3-1. He urged South Africans to buy tickets in large numbers, or they would have to watch the matches on television and miss out on being part of the biggest sporting event on earth.
Buy tickets
"I am appealing to South Africans to go and buy tickets. All the World Cup host stadiums are ready and there is no excuse for South Africans to hold back on buying tickets."
South Africans are also lagging behind in buying tickets for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009™. Only 170 000 tickets out of 646 000 have been sold for the Confederations Cup, which kicks off in less than four months.
Chief executive of the OC, Danny Jordaan, also appealed to South African fans to support the two events by buying tickets. While the World Cup promoted itself, FIFA and the OC relied on 80 percent local sales for the Confederations Cup.
"I urge South Africans not to wait for the last month to buy tickets. It would be very sad for the television audience to see empty seats at stadiums for the Confederations Cup. The point is clear; we need people to go out and get tickets or the event will pass us by."
FIFA's secretary-general, Jerome Valcke, was disappointed about the lack of promotion of the Confederations Cup in all host cities.
Promotion
"I was disappointed when I arrived in South Africa and drove from the airport to my hotel. There was no single promotion poster of the Confederations Cup. One cannot expect to sell tickets for the Confederations Cup if there is no promotion."
Jordaan assured the public that promoting the tournament would be stepped up on radio and television, and a company had been appointed to put up signage in all host cities.
Preparations for the Confederations Cup have reached a crucial stage, with Thursday, 5 March marking 100 days before kick off. Valcke said the FIFA ticketing sub-committee would visit all four host stadiums "to find out where we are in terms of budget".
"Now it's only about delivery. We cannot move the kick off, we can't say, ‘Sorry, there's going to be a delay'", he said.
The cup came at a perfect time to rehearse operations for the World Cup next year. The Festival of Champions, as it is widely known, kicks of at Johannesburg's Ellis Park Stadium on 14 June with a match between South Africa and Asian champions, Iraq.
"All eight teams participating in the Confederations Cup are bringing their best players. We have to make sure people are there in the stadiums to watch the Confederations Cup."
Following the attacks on Sri Lankan cricket players in Pakistan on Tuesday, 3 March, Khoza assured football fans that there would be tight security during the Confederations and World cups.
"Security will be at a maximum level to make sure that nothing happens in South Africa," he said.
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