world cup final 2010

world cup final 2010

world cup final 2010

world cup final 2010

World cup 2010 schedule

World cup 2010 schedule

World cup 2010 schedule

World cup 2010 schedule

world cup tickets

world cup tickets

world cup tickets

world cup tickets

world cup tickets

world cup tickets

13 Days To Go: Travel Advisory

I know tons of people making their way to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup.

One thing these very (very) lucky people don't have to worry about is tickets, as most people venturing to the tournament have their entrance passes.

But ticket sales to African citizens have been sluggish. (Maybe because the tickets are 6 feet tall? Look at the size of that thing!)

Not anymore. Looks like ticket demand is sky high with the Cup a mere two weeks away.

So all these tales of empty stadiums we've been reading the past few weeks? Doubtful.

Now does anyone have a ticket they can spare for their friendly neighborhood blogger?!?

Today's Tidbits

1 - Photographer Michael Donald of the Guardian tracks down the men who have lived every boy's dream – to score in the World Cup final. A compelling gallery.

2 - Five questions England must answer before their 2-1 loss to the United States in their opening match.

3 - Just-football.com has an analysis of all 32 squads at the World Cup. Here's their Spain assessment. Can you say winner?

4 - Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o on Friday questioned his participation at the World Cup finals after criticism from former compatriot Roger Milla that he had brought nothing to his country. And we thought divas only existed in American sports.

5 - The Columbian national team were robbed by 'scantily clad girls' at their Johannesburg hotel hours after 2-1 friendly defeat to South Africa. Salacious.

What I Think I Think

The entire premise of this blog centered around a trip to Africa for the 2010 World Cup. That didn't materialize. So while I'm extremely jealous of everyone making their way south for the Cup in 2 weeks time, heed my advice: be careful.

The US State Department has issued a South Africa Travel Alert for all visitors to the country for the World Cup.

The alert includes mentions of a heightened risk for terrorist activity (American citizens traveling in South Africa are encouraged to register with the United States mission to receive specific alerts), a general warning on crime and “public disturbances,” and even a note about a shortage of lodging, particularly in the smaller World Cup host cities.

There is also a reminder about the so-called yellow fever belt, which covers much of Africa and South America, and the need to carry proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Better safe than sorry, eh?

Have fun ... lucky buggers.

2010 World Cup Ticket Update

366 days to go ... tomorrow's one year to the 2010 World Cup.
Where has the time gone?!?

Today, a World Cup ticket update from FIFA.com ...

As of today (with four out of 32 teams qualified, in addition to the hosts South Africa) there have been a total of 630,021 tickets in 188 different countries/territories sold.

Nearly half of those total orders have been submitted by South Africans (301,601). Outside of South Africa, supporters from the USA have purchased the largest number of tickets (73,441), followed by the United Kingdom (42,907), Germany (30,880) and Australia (15,038). Reigning champions Italy have so far received 6,063 ticket orders, Brazil 5,777 and from France 5,106 tickets have been so far sold.

MY POV: Kind of interesting that the USA is second behind South Africa. For a nation that many think doesn't care about soccer ... maybe that David Beckham transfer had something to do with it? I kid, I kid!

The second ticketing phase will continue until November 16th. It's on a first-come, first-served basis.

How many of you have got your tickets in hand? If not, what are you waiting for?

I'll see you there! Maybe!

Oh No! 2010 World Cup Final Sold Out!

Looks like I'll be using scalpers to get into the 2010 World Cup final.

According to FIFA, the second phase of ticket sales for the opening match, semi-finals and the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup are sold out.

Gone. Goodbye.

The second phase had seen 105,322 tickets confirmed and approved so far.

"Due to a high demand for certain team specific ticket series, these tickets are no longer available for the following countries: England, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Ireland and Netherlands," the world football body said in a statement.

"It is no longer possible within the current sales phase to purchase match tickets for games taking place in Cape Town, Nelspruit and Pretoria."

Individual match tickets for the opening match, the two semi-finals, and the final were also unavailable in this phase.

However, team specific ticket series tickets, which allow supporters to follow the team of their choice, were available for the opening match, semi-final and the final.

If their team is eliminated, the team specific ticket allows the buyer to follow the team that progresses into the next round of the competition.

MY POV: So should I follow the USA? Spain? Help me here!

Did You Get a World Cup Ticket?

So did you get a ticket to the 2010 World Cup?

Soccer fans are starting to find out if they'll get tickets for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA began informing hundreds of thousands of soccer fans Thursday. Fans from 205 countries had requested a total of 1.8 million tickets in the first sales phase, with limits of four tickets per match and a maximum of seven matches.

A total of 245,948 tickets, or 44%, will be sent to South African residents. More than 69,000 tickets will go to the United States and almost 40,000 to England.

Ticket holders will be informed by e-mail or text message by the end of the month. The second sales phase begins in May with more ticket offers in December and early next year.

The World Cup begins in June 2010 in Johannesburg.

MY POV: I have NOT received my notice as of yet ... bummer.

2010 World Cup Facts and Figures

From news service Reuters, a facts and figures chart on 2010 World Cup tickets.
How many of you have applied? Was the process easy?

TICKET NUMBERS

* Just over 3 million tickets will be available for the 64 matches of the tournament, to be played in 10 different venues across South Africa

* Around 1.5 million tickets will be sold to the public. This is divided into 740,000 tickets on sale from Friday; 570,000 made available later in the year to supporters of qualified countries and 344,000 to those who buy tickets through an official tour operator

* World Cup sponsors are entitled to 550,000 tickets with a further 380,000 for hospitality rights holders. TV rights holders are entitled to 66,000 tickets

* FIFA will keep 200,000 tickets for member associations who do not qualify, give 89,600 to each participating country's football association and give the local organising committee 91,000 tickets to distribute

WHERE TO BUY

* Tickets are to be sold through FIFA's website (www.fifa.org), starting on Friday at 11 a.m. British time.

* In South Africa, tickets will also be sold through an application form and pre-paid credit card available at bank branches throughout the country

WHEN TO BUY

* There are three types of sales phases: random selection (phases one and three), first-come-first-served basis (phases two and four) and a last-minute sales phase

* The first phase closes on April 15 after which applicants will be told whether or not they have succeeded in their bid to buy tickets * The second phase is from May 4-November 16, the third is from December 5 until January 22, 2010, the fourth is from February 9 to April 7 and the last one starts on April 15, 2010, when FIFA still expects tickets to be returned to the pool.

WHAT TO BUY

* FIFA is selling two types of tickets: individual match tickets and a team-specific ticket series package, allowing fans to follow the national team of their choice. This can go up to seven games depending on how far the team progresses.

* Supporters can choose from any team that still has a chance of qualifying. If the team does not qualify, their purchase will be refunded.

* FIFA will give 120,000 free tickets to people from poorer areas of South Africa * Individuals may apply for up to four tickets per match to a maximum of seven matches.

TICKET PRICES

* Prices range from $20 (14 pounds) for the cheapest ticket to $900 for the most expensive.

* Opening match tickets range from $70 to $450, Group-stage tickets from $20 to $160 and knockout-stage tickets are priced from $50 to $600.

* World Cup final tickets are $150-900.

WHERE TO PICK THEM UP

* Tickets will be physically available only from April 2010 from specially created ATM terminals at dedicated ticketing centres, where successful applicants insert their credit card and tickets are printed automatically. These machines will be situated in the host cities and at airports.

(Compiled by Mark Gleeson in Johannesburg; Editing by Sonia Oxley)

216,975 Fans Want to Go to the 2010 World Cup!

Applications from 128 countries for 216,975 World Cup tickets were received Saturday via the FIFA website 24 hours after tickets went on sale across the globe, FIFA officials said.

WOW!

The biggest number of orders came from South Africa followed by Britain, the United States, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Argentina.

"These are fantastic numbers, underlying yet again the fervor taking hold around the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on the African continent," David Will, chairman of the FIFA ticketing sub-committee, said.

"It is very exciting and further evidence that the global football family wants to be part of this unique event on this very special continent," the statement quoted him as saying.

"We are absolutely ecstatic with the phenomenal response of football fans around the world to the start of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa," chief executive officer of the FIFA local organizing committee, Danny Jordaan, said.

Fans have until midnight March 31 to make their ticket applications on the FIFA website.

FIFA has about three million tickets available for 64 matches ranging from 80 dollars for group stages to 900 dollars for the final.

Tickets will be available in three types of sales phases: the random selection draw, the first come first served, and last minute sales.

MY POV: So ... did you apply? Are you going to South Africa for the Cup?!?