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March 28, 2005
The FIFA World Cup ticket odyssey
In case you weren't aware of the fact: next year, the FIFA World Cup will take place in Germany. Since this is probably the only chance I'll have to easily go and see a world cup football (soccer) match, I'm eager to get some tickets for a match or two. Did I say "easily" - ah well, that is something of an overstatement. Let me explain just how easy it is to actually get tickets for the matches. In an effort to curb black-market selling of tickets, the organizers have come up with something that is - well really really interesting. Luckily I have a friend who really understands the ins and outs and has explained to me what I need to do.
So, to start with, the tickets will be "distributed" in 4 batches. The first "distribution" started a couple of months ago and runs until March 31st. This is how it works: You go to the website here, enter your personal details (for yourself and up to 3 "visitor" friends) and the matches you would like to see and that's it. However there are a couple of slight drawbacks - but instead of writing them down here, why don't you just go and check out the FAQ here. And I'll see you back here in - oh a day or so. Just when you've read the rules for the tenth time and still don't understand what they mean when it says:
Which ticket types are available?
For the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany TM tickets will be offered for seats only. Available are single tickets and team specific tickets (TSTs) Single tickets entitle you to attend a particular match. TST series entitle you to attend a certain number of matches of a particular team.
Single tickets are available in four price categories. TST series are available in three price categories. As matters of principle, applications for single tickets exclude applications for TSTs, and vice versa. Therefore you will have to opt either for single tickets, or for TSTs.
Still with me? Now that is only one of the 65 (sixty-five) points on the FAQ - and you should read them all before ordering. You've been warned. Another drawback to ordering any tickets now is the following:
It is possible to order single tickets for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany (TM) already during the qualification period. As neither the teams which will qualify for the tournament, nor the venues will have been determined at that point in time, single tickets, up to the draw for the final round (9th of December 2005), can only be applied for by match number, by letter of world cup group (e.g. "A”), by position in world cup group as allocated in the final draw (e.g. “A1”), by date, and by venue.
So, even though you can enter which match you're interested in - you don't yet actually know who will be playing as the qualification round hasn't yet finished. The number of tickets you can order depends on the price category. If you go for price-categories 1,2 or 3 then you can order up to 4 tickets for seven matches (which have to be on different days). You can only enter the same people for all the chosen matches, so you can't say take your wife to one match and your girlfriend to another match.
Another interesting point and one that has seen some discussion is this little snippet:
Why do I have to provide ID-card/passport numbers on the application form?
These numbers are required to ensure unambiguous identification and to establish an unambiguous link to the personal data of the purchasers.
So, you have to provide not only your name, address, age, bank account information and email-address but also your ID-card/passport number. The tickets you then receive (if any) are personalized - again to prevent black-market selling, and you won't receive the actual tickets until a few weeks before the matches. You can also pay by credit card - but only with Mastercard - as they are the official sponsors of the World Cup.
Anyway, I've ordered my tickets - or rather: entered the draw and I reckon the whole process (with 3 more "distributions" to go) is going to be very interesting.
Posted by Matthew at March 28, 2005 07:52 PM