South Korea Proposes Selling World Cup Tickets to China, Japan

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 27, 2001

South Korea Proposes Selling World Cup Tickets to China, Japan

South Korean organizers Wednesday said they wanted to sell some unsold World Cup tickets allotted to domestic fans to fans from China and Japan. South Korea has so far sold 570,000, or 77 percent, of the 742, 000 tickets allotted to domestic fans. It fears that it cannot sell some of the remaining 170,000 tickets.

Organizers said they have recently asked FIFA, soccer's world governing body, to allow them to sell about 50,000 domestic tickets in China and Japan, where ticket demand remains high.

As co-hosts, South Korea and Japan together were allocated about half of the 3 million tickets available for the tournament from May 31 to June 30.

Japan has sold about 90 percent of its 675,000 tickets available for domestic fans, South Korean organizers said.

The 2002 World Cup is soccer's first premier event to be held in Asia. As co-hosts, South Korea and Japan will equally split 64 matches.

South Korea expects up to 100,000 Chinese visitors during the tournament.

Many fans lose out on Cup tickets

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) will be allocated 8,424 World Cup tickets now that the country has landed in the Finals. But fans are angry that hardly any will be left for them, once VIPs get their share.

Tickets will sell for 1,300 yuan (US$156), 871 yuan (US$104) and 520 yuan (US$62). They will be mailed to the association in April and May.

Association officials said priority will be given to people including association officials, league club members, provincial sports ministers, sponsors and promotion partners and national tourism agencies. That leaves many fans out in the cold.

In previous World Cups, the association could get only 150 tickets and seldom ran out of hand.

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