World Cup Ticket Info from USSF

[abw]

So, does anyone know for sure that there will be TST tickets available in Phase 2?

[ButlerBob]

I got the rejection letter for Phase 1. I had put in for the team tickets for the US. A couple of other people that I know also got shut out for tickets. Hopefully I'll be able to get them in the next round.

[Fur Elise]

Most likely to qualify - Czech Republic, Ukraine, South Korea, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal - check UEFA's qualifying table for more...

[zman31]

I won the lottery. I got 3 TST tickets for the USA through the semi-final. I'm so excited that I can almost ignore the large charge on the Mastercard.

[TomSulli]

Like others, I did not win the lottery and now it looks like both TST AND individual tickets are sold out for the US. Here's the notice from the FIFA web.

"The second sales period for 2006 FIFA World Cup™ match tickets begins on 2 May 2005 at 12 o'clock midday CEST (Central European Summer Time).
Tickets will be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis in this sales period, i.e. applications will be processed in the order they are received. Subject to availability, TST (Team Specific Ticket) series may be ordered by applicants wishing to follow a specific team as they progress through the tournament. Due to high levels of demand in the first sales period, individual tickets and TST series will not be available at the start of the new period for the following nations: Germany, Argentina, Brazil, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the USA."

I'm still trying to figure out what options I have left. I'm registered with the US Federation so that's one. The notice above says that US tickets won't be available "at the start of the new period" and this seems to imply that they may be made available later. Does anyone have any information on this?

I wish the German Federation would post the complete plans for ticket sales instead of doling the information out bit by bit.

[dark knight]

I wonder why we sold out so quickly, I wonder if it's because people (non-U.S. fans) view us as a virtual lock for qualification. They should have some sort of proof of fandom required for priority ticketing - such as previously attended World Cup in support of the U.S. or attended x number of qualifiers. Hopefully the Federation has plenty to go around.

[Mikeymike15]

I wonder why we sold out so quickly, I wonder if it's because people (non-U.S. fans) view us as a virtual lock for qualification. They should have some sort of proof of fandom required for priority ticketing - such as previously attended World Cup in support of the U.S. or attended x number of qualifiers. Hopefully the Federation has plenty to go around.

Yes, I hope the USSF does as well.....

[JBigjake]

I'd like to read somewhere that the Germany Organizing Committee has someone from the USSF vetting the successful ticket applications to ensure that scalpers & non-USA fans didn't acquire USA-TSTs.

[McKinney_Burn]

The notice above says that US tickets won't be available "at the start of the new period" and this seems to imply that they may be made available later. Does anyone have any information on this?

I wish the German Federation would post the complete plans for ticket sales instead of doling the information out bit by bit.

I agree. The website info is cryptic at best. Though reading between the lines, and making a large assumption, I am wondering if our next shot is Phase 3, unless The Fed makes some available earlier. Phase 3 app period ends on January 15, and is another lottery again. Since this will be after the final draw, I would think that the OC will make more tickets available if the US is drawn in a bigger stadium that has seats left for allotment.

[PaulGascoigne]

I'd like to read somewhere that the Germany Organizing Committee has someone from the USSF vetting the successful ticket applications to ensure that scalpers & non-USA fans didn't acquire USA-TSTs.

Well, supposedly *all* of the tickets can only be used by the person who bought them. I have no doubt people will find their way around that.

If you look at it this way--all the other 12 teams mentioned by goooooalll!!!, aside from Japan, will play one less european and/or S. american team than the US (unless we make a #1 seed, which by all reports is impossible now) because they will be in a pool w/ other S. American and Euro teams. So you will have a greater chance of seeing more "name" opponents in the group stages if you are going to watch the US play. But I very much doubt anyone has used this rationale. My own thought is that even though many of the US tickets are bought by Americans who don't have the USA as their #1 team (i.e., immigrants and their families), they would be willing to watch the US since they are interested in watching World Cup Games in general.

[GOOOOAL!!]

I'd like to read somewhere that the Germany Organizing Committee has someone from the USSF vetting the successful ticket applications to ensure that scalpers & non-USA fans didn't acquire USA-TSTs.

Unfortunately there is nothing in the ticket rules that says you have to be a fan of the team for which you are getting tickets. The form even has a section that asks which country you support (make sure they don't set a Argentine in an England section).

I don't like it, but that's the way they have it set up. FIFA wants to make sure they sell out the stadiums, unlike in Korea in 2002.

I got TST3 tickets for Ecuador yesterday night.
The reasons I picked them was:
1. They have a good shot of qualifying - 3rd in CONMEBOL currently (4 1/2 qualify)
2. I don't think they have a political beef with the US (at least not as much as say Ukraine or some of the Asia teams). Best to be on the safe side.
3. There is a chance they will be drawn into the same group as the US.
4. They will be drawn into a group with at least one big name country (England, Germany, Italy, etc) which will make the tickets worth a lot.
5. South American fans really know how to party!
6. Most importantly.... We didn't get the US tickets we wanted. :( We'll try through US Soccer, but I'm not hanging my hat on them.

[owian]

I was both pleasently and dissapointingly supprised to see the US sell out its allotment so quickly, but I think there are a number of reasons for this

1) we have money

2) the tournament is in Europe, I know five friends already who are thinking of joining me next just as an excsue to party in Europe,

3) We will qualify

4) The military, how many american servicemen are in Germany right now?

5) We have money

[mfw13]

And to add to some of the reasons mentioned above consider that:

1) There were roughly 5000-6000 US fans at each match in Korea, and that was in a far-off country and coming off a 32nd place finish in 1998.

2) Germany is easy to get to from the US and relatively cheap to get around.

3) A lot more people have become fans of the USMNT in the last four years because of how well we did in Korea.

Given that the 2010 tournament is in South Africa, a place that is difficult to get to (virtually no non-stop flights from the US as far as I know), and difficult to get around (major cities are quite a ways apart and the transportation infrastructure is relatively poor), I'm sure that there are a lot of people who are going to Germany simple because its relatively convenient as far as World Cups go.

[gschroeder]

So are all USA games 100% sold out? I missed the first round unfortunatly and looks like I'm out of luck for the second. Any hope of getting TST for USA?

[buckeye5]

And to add to some of the reasons mentioned above consider that:

1) There were roughly 5000-6000 US fans at each match in Korea, and that was in a far-off country and coming off a 32nd place finish in 1998.

2) Germany is easy to get to from the US and relatively cheap to get around.

3) A lot more people have become fans of the USMNT in the last four years because of how well we did in Korea.

Given that the 2010 tournament is in South Africa, a place that is difficult to get to (virtually no non-stop flights from the US as far as I know), and difficult to get around (major cities are quite a ways apart and the transportation infrastructure is relatively poor), I'm sure that there are a lot of people who are going to Germany simple because its relatively convenient as far as World Cups go.

I think 5000 - 6000 is way too high of an estimate, but valid points on the rest. I agree completely with your reasoning. Well it sucks to be a "Hey, we're going to be summer vacationing in Europe so let's try to go to the World Cup" US Soccer Fan. But this is only one in four in a convenient location. Korea, Germany, South Africa, Brazil. So they have to go now or wait another 12 years, at least.

One of the other issues related is that Germany did not have a seperate sale, so the locals will be using our FIFA TSTs.

[MetroTard]

5) We have money

After 2 (hopefully 4) weeks of spending Euros instead of dollars we won't.

[Clinton AFC]

After 2 (hopefully 4) weeks of spending Euros instead of dollars we won't.

Hey, chin up! Keep your eye on the exchange rate! The value of the euro has been subtlely dropping vs the dollar and it may continue to fall lower.

Europe is never really cheap but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for US supporters going over next summer.

The trick of course is to book, purchase, etc, at the right time. Or use the credit card.


:)

[Mikeymike15]

FYI, South African Airlines has daily non-stop or 1-stop (technical stop) flights from Atlanta and New York City to Jo-burg or Capetown, depending on the season. The stop is in cape-verde islands to re-fuel, same plane, no connections possible. 18 hours flt.

I agree with Buckeye5, 5000-6000 was a bit of an overestimate for Korea

Agree that Germany is easier to get to thus more people will want to take the opportunity.

I booked and have paid a 10% deposit for a flat in Berlin for three weeks. My deposit was 206 Euros which worked out to be roughly $245 dollars. I don't need to pay for the rest of the flat until 9-JUN-06 (day of the kickoff) and I can cancel outright on or before the 9-MAY-06. In my opinion, the $245 down payment is a no brainer of a sacrifice to ensure that I have $30 or less/night accomodations.

[JoeSoccerFan]

FYI, South African Airlines has daily non-stop or 1-stop (technical stop) flights from Atlanta and New York City to Jo-burg or Capetown, depending on the season. The stop is in cape-verde islands to re-fuel, same plane, no connections possible. 18 hours flt.

I agree with Buckeye5, 5000-6000 was a bit of an overestimate for Korea

Agree that Germany is easier to get to thus more people will want to take the opportunity.

I booked and have paid a 10% deposit for a flat in Berlin for three weeks. My deposit was 206 Euros which worked out to be roughly $245 dollars. I don't need to pay for the rest of the flat until 9-JUN-06 (day of the kickoff) and I can cancel outright on or before the 9-MAY-06. In my opinion, the $245 down payment is a no brainer of a sacrifice to ensure that I have $30 or less/night accomodations.

I'm in the process of booking a place in the next 2 weeks in Koln. Looking to see how many people would be interested and what time span you're looking for. I plan on staying for the entire month (probably cheaper/easier more options) to commit for the month rather than 3 weeks.

[Mikeymike15]

I'm in the process of booking a place in the next 2 weeks in Koln. Looking to see how many people would be interested and what time span you're looking for. I plan on staying for the entire month (probably cheaper/easier more options) to commit for the month rather than 3 weeks.


Excellent Joe, if a game is in Berlin, you're more then welcome to party/crash with us if you don't mind floor space.....

In case people are curious, this is what I rented:
http://www.ferienwohnung-zimmer-berlin.de/Unterkuenfte-eng/unterkunft.php?unr=654&

Also, here is a good site on Koln flats

http://www.wohnungen-e-rent.de/flats-Cologne.htm