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Party time: Brazil will host next summer's tournament despite major protests. Nelson Antoine/AP/Press Association Images
Road to Rio

2.3 million World Cup tickets go on sale

Get em while they’re hot, Ireland fans! Right?

SOME 2.3 MILLION tickets for next year’s World Cup in Brazil were sold in the first 24 hours of internet sales, FIFA said last night.

The tickets were sought by more than 400,000 fans through the FIFA.com website.

The biggest demand came from Brazilians, followed by Argentinians, Americans, Chileans and Colombians.

There were more than 372,000 ticket requests for the opening match in Sao Paulo on 12 June, and more than 344,000 for the final at Rio’s legendary Maracana stadium on 13 July.

The sale began Tuesday and fans have still until 10 October  to make their requests. The draw for the final phase does not take place until 6 December.

Ireland face Sweden and Austria in a crunch double header of qualifiers.

Some tickets are reserved for “those over 60 years old, students and recipients of the Bolsa Familia family grant”, according to the International Football Federation (FIFA).

Those tickets are branded Category 4, cost between $15 and $82.50 (€11-€62), and are available only to Brazilians.

Foreigners can buy tickets in the other three categories, which cost much more.

Tickets in those categories for the opening match at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo cost between $220 and $495 while those for the final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana go for a minimum of $440 up to $990.

The first phase of sales, relating to around a third of the total number of tickets available, lasts until October 10, after which a ballot will be held to determine the successful applications.

The same procedure will apply in the second phase where tickets will be awarded after a random draw period from 8 December, 2013 to 30 January 2014, followed by a first come, first served period from next Febuary 26 to next April 1.

Finally, there will be a last-minute sales phase on a first come, first served basis from 15 April to 13 July, the day of the final.

So far only hosts Brazil, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Iran have booked their places at the finals.

The World Cup will take place across 12 cities with around 600,000 foreign fans expected to attend the tournament.

© AFP, 2013

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