Football legends speak out on 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa as 400,000 new tickets go on sale

With two thirds of the total inventory, according to FIFA, and more than two million tickets sold to date, the fourth ticket sales phase for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa kicked off today. Football legends speak out for Africa. And tickets are not available for 11 matches tickets. See which ones below.

According to FiFA, some 400,000 tickets for 53 matches will be made available during the next 58 days, until 7 April 2010.

Tickets will be allocated on a “first come, first serve’ basis subject to availability. Applications can be made via the official FIFA website or, for South African residents, at FNB branches (in South Africa).

Only 122 days away from kick-off and amidst growing concern over factors such as FIFA’s event organization, crime in South Africa, price gouging (which is being investigated), accommodation challenges and other issues, several football legends have come out in support of the choice to hold an African World Cup.

Cameroonian great Roger Milla said: “In Africa, we are so happy to have received this “It was the right decision to finally have an African country hosting this tournament,” said Sir Bobby Charlton, who inspired England to the world crown in 1966.

Mexican great Hugo Sanchez concurred: "I'm very happy for Africa. The continent had to wait so many years for this occasion. To have South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not only very good for football, but also for the whole African continent.”

Said football great Pele, who long pushed for an African nation to be granted the right to host the FIFA World Cup: “Everybody knows that I’m very confident and happy because I was the one who was fighting for the World Cup to be in Africa. They deserve it.”

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
“The first come first serve principle means that if you do not apply on time, you run the risk of not getting a ticket,” said Horst Schmidt of FIFA.

Two millions tickets have been sold to date, he added.

See all the teams, all the dates, all the venues, here.

Ticket for 11 FIFA World Cup matches, out of the 64 that will take place during the event, are not available at this stage.

The matches (tickets are not yet available for) are:
5: England vs USA,
23: England vs Algeria,
37: Slovenia vs England,
45: Portugal vs Brazil,
54: Round 16 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg,
56: Round 16 at Cape Town,
59: Quarter Final at Cape Town,
60: Quarter Final at Ellis Park, Johannesburg,
61: Semi Final at Cape Town,
62: Semi Final at Durban and
64: Final at Soccer City, Johannesburg).

However, tickets for all matches in Mangaung/ Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Polokwane and Tshwane/ Pretoria are available as well as matches at Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth (except Slovenia vs England) and Rustenburg (except England vs USA).

A few tickets could potentially still be made available for all matches at a later stage as some tickets, initially allocated to teams or commercial partners, might be returned to the general public sales  process.

As an additional service, starting February 9, fans can check for updated ticket availability, including team specific ticket series, on the FIFA website. FIFA.com.

So far, a total of two millions tickets have been sold in the first three sales phases (including tour operators, PMA sales). This corresponds to two thirds of the total inventory, according to FIFA.