World Cup Ticket Info from USSF

[Bigdog]

FYI:

U.S. Soccer Fan-
We are passing along the information below from FIFA on ticket sales for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to our ussoccerfan.com membership. We will share with you any additional information on World Cup ticket sales that becomes available to us in the future.

Should the U.S. Men's National Team successfully qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals, U.S. Soccer will receive an allocation of tickets from FIFA. As noted below, "the participating nations ...[receive] eight percent of the tickets for matches involving their team." Select tickets from that allotment would be made available to registered U.S. Soccer fans at
http://cl.exct.net/?fe5e157372650379771c-fe2e107971640074751572
ussoccerfan.com(details on that process have yet to be finalized).

http://cl.exct.net/?fe5d157372650379771d-fe2e107971640074751572
Tickets are on sale now for the United States Men's National Team's first home game of the final round of qualifyingfor the 2006 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, March 30, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., against Guatemala.

U.S. Soccer is also pleased to introduce the
http://cl.exct.net/?fe651573726503797614-fe2e107971640074751572
Ultimate Fan Ticketfor World Cup Qualifying matches, a premium ticket package that will not only give fans a top-level seat in the stadium, but will give them VIP access to the field before and after the game, a custom U.S. National Team jersey with their name and number, and other special benefits throughout the gameday event.

http://cl.exct.net/?fe641573726503797615-fe2e107971640074751572
If you are interested in tickets to matches for the U.S. Men's National Team's World Cup Qualifying Matches please visit the
http://cl.exct.net/?fe631573726503797616-fe2e107971640074751572
"Tickets"page at
http://cl.exct.net/?fe621573726503797617-fe2e107971640074751572
ussoccer.com.

Thank you for supporting U.S. Soccer!

Tickets for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany Will Go On Sale February 1, 2005

FIFA announced on Monday the ticketing procedures for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. Public sale of tickets will open Tuesday, February 1, 2005.

812,000 match tickets go on sale from February 1, 2005, in the first 2006 FIFA World Cup ticket sales period. "But we will release at least 300,000 more tickets for sale before January 15, 2006," announced German Organising Committee (OC) senior vice-president Horst R. Schmidt at a joint FIFA/OC news conference at the Hotel Kempinski Gravenbruch in Neu-Isenburg. "And we know from experience that many more will also go on public sale after that," Schmidt continued.

Links:


http://cl.exct.net/?fe611573726503797610-fe2e107971640074751572
Tickets Home [FIFAworldcup.com]

http://cl.exct.net/?fe601573726503797611-fe2e107971640074751572
Prices & Matches [FIFAworldcup.com]

http://cl.exct.net/?fe5f1573726503797612-fe2e107971640074751572
Complete Match Schedule (.pdf) [FIFAworldcup.com]

http://cl.exct.net/?fe5e1573726503797613-fe2e107971640074751572
FAQ [FIFAworldcup.com]

http://cl.exct.net/?fe5d157372650379761c-fe2e107971640074751572
Qualifying: U.S. Soccer Ticket Information

http://cl.exct.net/?fe5c157372650379761d-fe2e107971640074751572
Qualifying: Ultimate Fan Ticket
According to the most up-to-date ticketing plans, the 12 FIFA World Cup stadiums boast a gross capacity of 3.37 million for the 64 FIFA World Cup matches. However, after taking away seats for VIP guests, the media, a security reserve and seats with restricted views, the gross capacity is reduced by around 440,000. According to the latest estimates, a total of 2.93 million tickets will go on sale.

The first of five sales periods begins on February 1, 2005, and ends on March 31, 2005, although the order in which applications are received has no bearing on the final allocation of tickets. "People should take their time, study the match schedule, and then apply within the given time frame. We're assuming demand will far exceed supply, so we will begin a ballot on 15 April 2005," Horst R. Schmidt explained. The ballot will be conducted electronically according to TUV certified procedures in the presence of a notary public. Applicants who are allocated tickets will receive written confirmation indicating the number and category of tickets. Final seat allocation will be advised at a later
date.

FIFA General Secretary Dr. Urs Linsi explained the decision to begin sales for host nation Germany and the rest of the world simultaneously via the internet through
http://cl.exct.net/?fe641573726503797114-fe2e107971640074751572
www.FIFAworldcup.com. "The FIFA World Cup is a global event so ticket sales have to begin at the same time everywhere," Dr Linsi commented. To ensure as many fans as possible receive tickets, two limits have been placed on applications per household. The first covers price categories 1-3: a household may apply for a maxi-mum of four tickets per match for up to seven matches. The second limit applies to the cheapest tickets in category 4, where a maximum of two tickets per application for up to three matches applies. The cheapest "fan category" includes a total of approximately 260,000 tickets.

The first sales period also features Team Specific Tickets (TST) allowing fans to follow their favorite team from the group stage right up to the Final.

In line with applicable regulations and contractual commitments, reserved ticket quotas are not included in the first sales period. This applies to FIFA member associations (205 in total) in general and the participating nations in particular, each of which receives eight percent of the tickets for matches involving their team.

Further substantial quotas based on net stadium capacities are reserved for the Official Partners and Official Suppliers (18.9 percent) and the TV partners (2.2 per-cent), whose licence fees constitute a significant proportion of revenues at the FIFA World Cup. "But what we know about the sponsors is that many of these tickets return to the fans by way of competition prizes," commented Franz Beckenbauer.

Later this year the German Football Association (DFB) Organising Committee will offer approximately 400,000 tickets to the so-called German football family - regional associations, first and second division clubs, fan organisations and the FIFA World Cup Host Cities and stadiums. "But our advice in the first instance is for people to apply for publicly available tickets," explained Horst R. Schmidt. Added OC President Franz Beckenbauer: "What I've said to everyone who's come up and asked me for tickets over the last few weeks is to get on the internet, because we can't guarantee tickets to anyone."

The 2006 FIFA World Cup OC and FIFA have established the legal basis for ticket sales in collaboration with the European Commission, the Federal Environment Ministry, agricultural and consumer protection agencies and data protection authorities.

With the exception of tickets won in competitions run by companies which are not Official Partners or Official Suppliers of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, tickets are non-transferable.

http://cl.exct.net/?fe631573726503797115-fe2e107971640074751572


http://cl.exct.net/?fe621573726503797116-fe2e107971640074751572
Apply now for the U.S. Soccer Federation Platinum MasterCard(r)
MasterCard is the official method of payment of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. MasterCard products are the only cards accepted for payment in the first four sales periods. Alternatively, payments can be made by bank transfer or direct debit. More information is available at
http://cl.exct.net/?fe611573726503797117-fe2e107971640074751572
www.mastercard.com/fifaworldcup.

FIFA and the OC have established clear priorities. "The fans are the defining factor at a World Cup. Our aim is to provide an optimal service, and we're hoping not just to sell all the tickets, but to fill the stadiums down to the very last seat," declared Franz Beckenbauer. Added FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi: "The FIFA and OC Ticketing Sub-committee has laid down the fairest possible guidelines which we hope will work well and be widely accepted." With an eye on the financial situation, Horst R. Schmidt said: "We've calculated ticket revenues of 200 million Euros which we need to balance the books. That's based on selling 90 percent of the tickets, although obviously we'll do all we
can to make it 100 percent."

http://cl.exct.net/?fe601573726503797110-fe2e107971640074751572
Prices were set in December 2003, beginning at 35 Euros for the cheapest categoryat 47 group matches (different prices apply to the Opening Match), up to 600 Euros for the most expensive category 1 ticket at the Final on July 9, 2006.

The tickets are totally forgery-proof. Tickets will be dispatched around six weeks before the tournament and feature an embedded chip including access data. Summarised Horst R. Schmidt: "We have an effective weapon in our efforts to put a complete end to touting." Personal data such as names will not be stored on the chip, which contains only access information.

For further information on FIFA's Ticket Sales procedures for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, please visit
http://cl.exct.net/?fe5f1573726503797111-fe2e107971640074751572
FIFAworldcup.com.

This email was sent by:U.S. Soccer
1801 S. Prairie Ave. Chicago, IL, 60616, United States

[SABuffalo786]

I think I'll wait for the USSF allocation.

[The Magpie]

Likewise.

[Bigdog]

Raises pint, I mean hand : )
Me too.

[Hosscat]

I trust the USSF again.... The FIFA plan only accepts Mastacard and it's pretty damn confusing to boot. I would like to get tickets to an England or Brazil game somehow though.

[Phee]

Raises pint, I mean hand : )
Me too.

Based on the seating capacities of the various stadiums, that could be less than 2,500 tickets per game. Don't you think there will be more demand than that? I'd rather get them from ussf, but it seems like a risk.

[Bigdog]

Im not going on the perverbial limb and tell you to wait. : ) Im sure it would be best for as many supporters as possible to get tickets through Fifa now, and then leave the USSoccerfan allotment for the rest of us. How does that sound ? : )


Based on the seating capacities of the various stadiums, that could be less than 2,500 tickets per game. Don't you think there will be more demand than that? I'd rather get them from ussf, but it seems like a risk.

[Chelsey]

I'm just going to buy them from Fifa and hope I get picked in the lottery.

[Jay Cee]

I think it's a risk to wait for US Soccer. They had tickets during the last world cup because no one was going to Korea. Lots are going now, including the players, their families, and sponsors. Those people will get first rights to the tickets and then whatever is left over will go the US Soccer fans. Good luck if you wait!

For the person who posted you can only pay with MasterCard. Check again, you can pay through your bank account wire transfer.

[JoeSoccerFan]

For the person who posted you can only pay with MasterCard. Check again, you can pay through your bank account wire transfer.

Yes, but there maybe additional expenses.

From the FIFA FAQ ticket page (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/tickets/faq.html#29)

29. What do I have to keep in mind when paying by bank transfer?

If you are not holder of a bank account in Germany, or if you prefer not to pay by credit card you can pay by bank transfer, provided you agree to take over bank charges.
<edit for EU banks>
If you hold a bank account outside the EU, you can use the so called OUR method of money transfer. In this case you must pay the transfer fees of your bank and of the receiving bank as well as any other fees arising so that the full invoiced amount will be credited to the FIFA 2006 account without any deductions. Important: Only the bank transfer methods above will be accepted. These methods are detailed in the confirmation of your application. Please contact your bank for more information on the methods described above. Please do note the payment deadlines. The payment deadline is the date of the payment credited to the receiver account. It is not the date of the money transfer order.

[pasoccerdave]

For the person who posted you can only pay with MasterCard. Check again, you can pay through your bank account wire transfer.

So noted. A number of people had planned to pay by Visa, Discover, or American Express, and are now quite frustrated.

What other options are there?

[Roehl Sybing]

Yes, but there maybe additional expenses.

From the FIFA FAQ ticket page (http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/tickets/faq.html#29)

29. What do I have to keep in mind when paying by bank transfer?

If you are not holder of a bank account in Germany, or if you prefer not to pay by credit card you can pay by bank transfer, provided you agree to take over bank charges.
Just to give some perspective on what fees look like, I send my money home from Japan every month, and it is certainly not cheap. The shortest time it can take to wire money is also the most expensive, IIRC about $45 when I didn't have time to investigate other options (now it costs me about $20 per wire), plus another $10 from Chase for receiving an incoming wire. So if you're in the same situation as me, you will get bit twice, once for using the wire service at your bank, and once again by the bank over there, and it looks like FIFA is going to make you agree to that charge too.

If you absolutely need a MasterCard, I haven't tried it, but PayPal offers a debit card into which you can put money from your checking account.

[Beaker]

It seems to me that you're better off trying to get tickets through FIFA now, and then, if you don't get picked in any of the four(?) lotteries coming up, then hopefully USSF will have one for you. The risk, in my mind, is that once USSF gets their allottment, hundreds of thousands of tickets will have already been sold. Since there's no way to buy someone else's ticket from them, you're screwed if you wait for the USSF and they run out before you get yours. All tickets are person-specific, so if you don't buy it or are a guest of a buyer who registers you, you're not getting into any stadium. I'd rather get a Team-Specific Ticket and see what happens.

[FoxBoro 143]

I'm not exactly sure what a wire transfer is, would Western union work?

[babytiger2001]

I'm not exactly sure what a wire transfer is, would Western union work?

As globally accepted as Western Union is, I can't see any reason why not.

But those in charge of the ticketing options at FIFA would have to have the last say on that.

[natewhd]

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/tickets/overview.html
Check this link. everything you want to know about tickets for WC2006. Hope we're there. You can apply for team specific tickets (TST). US , England whatever. I agree that its smartest to apply through fifa first. There are 5 application phases, the last ends just before June 06. Good Luck.

[Jay Cee]

It seems to me that you're better off trying to get tickets through FIFA now, and then, if you don't get picked in any of the four(?) lotteries coming up, then hopefully USSF will have one for you. The risk, in my mind, is that once USSF gets their allottment, hundreds of thousands of tickets will have already been sold. Since there's no way to buy someone else's ticket from them, you're screwed if you wait for the USSF and they run out before you get yours. All tickets are person-specific, so if you don't buy it or are a guest of a buyer who registers you, you're not getting into any stadium. I'd rather get a Team-Specific Ticket and see what happens.

They will never be able to control it. I sold some of my tickets in 2002. Now, if your ticket ends up with a scalper, that's the problem. If you sell to a reliable source or friend, they won't be able to do anything. They just want names so scalpers can't get ahold of tons of tickets to resell.

[El-Professor]

They will never be able to control it. I sold some of my tickets in 2002. Now, if your ticket ends up with a scalper, that's the problem. If you sell to a reliable source or friend, they won't be able to do anything. They just want names so scalpers can't get ahold of tons of tickets to resell.

The FIFA website says they will randonly check to see if the person holding the ticket is the person who registered for the ticket. My only concern is how much they will enforce this.

[FoxBoro 143]

Not completely ticket related, but here is an outline of soccertravel.com's travel package.

SoccerTravel / 2006 WC "Follow Team USA or similar team" Travel Package (LAND ONLY) includes:

I. ACCOMMODATIONS: One (1) twin room for thirteen (13) nights at a three star tourist economy or four star moderate superior hotels in Germany from June 10 through June 23, 2006.
A. Inclusive of all taxes on each room night charge
B. Buffet breakfast daily
C. Clients must provide credit card at the time of check in to cover incidental expense
D. Possible hotel cities/venues to include Hamburg, Hannover, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Leipzig, Koln, Frankfurt, Nurnberg, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, Munich, Kaiserslautern and/or surrounding suburbs of any of these listed cities/venues.


II. EVENT TICKETS: One (1) ticket per person per game for the "Follow Team USA or similar team" games listed below:
A. Game 1 - Team USA vs Opponent TBA or similar match
B. Game 2 - Team USA vs Opponent TBA or similar match
C. Game 3 - Team USA vs Opponent TBA or similar match
D. Game dates, venues & actual time of kickoff to be determined at the FIFA draw which will take place on 10 and 11 December 2005 in Leipzig, Germany

III. GROUND TRANSPORTATION:
A. Round-trip ground transfers from the Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich International Airports to designated hotel June 10 and return to Frankfurt, Berlin or Munich International Airports on June 23, 2006.
B. Three (3) round-trip motor coach transfers from the designated hotel to stadiums for all three "Follow Team USA " matches and return to the designated hotel


IV. CORPORATE HOSPITALITY & OTHER TRAVEL SERVICES (Per person)
A. One ½ day panoramic city tour of the venue/cities listed above
B. One German Rail Pass per person which provides you with six days unlimited train travel in 1 month on the national rail networks of Germany
C. SoccerTravel / 2006 WC Gift Package
D. Package / Ticket Delivery

V. TERMS & CONDITIONS
A. All payments are 100% nonrefundable
B. $500 per person deposit due upon signing of invoice agreement
C. $500 per person due on or before March 31, 2004
D. $500 per person due on or before July 31, 2005
E. Final payment & remaining balance due on or before January 31, 2006
F. Travel insurance for trip cancellation is optional and additional charges will be incurred (Trip Cancellation insurance is high recommended, please ask for quotation & brochure for coverages)
G. All payments must be made with company, cashiers or personal check of immediately available funds made payable to SoccerTravel
H. Credit card (Visa & MasterCard Only) payments will incur an additional charge of 2.5% labeled as a SoccerTravel Service Charge
I. SoccerTravel reserves the right to cancel, or modify in its sole discretion any part of the tour and will, when it reasonably can do so, give notice to the passenger of any material changes in the tour.
J. SoccerTravel reserves the right to charge for increases in land or air costs that arise due to currency fluctuations or airfare increases that occur between tariffs in effect as of November 01, 2003 and the final payment of the tour cost.
K. Important Note: No services or hotel space is being held for you at the time of this quotation
L. A one time shipping, handling and processing fee of $50 will be added to all invoices.

The total purchase price of the 2006 "Follow Team USA" World Cup Travel Packages are as follows:

3 STAR TOURIST ECONOMY HOTEL PACKAGE (price per person):
Double: $3,495 Triple: $3,155

3 STAR FIRST CLASS HOTEL PACKAGE (price per person):
Double: $4,095 Triple: $3,575

4 STAR MODERATE SUPERIOR HOTEL PACKAGE (price per person):
Double: $4,755 Triple: $4,195

PACKAGES CAN BE DISCOUNTED BY 15% IF PURCHASED ON OR BEFORE THE OFFER EXPIRATION DATE LISTED BELOW

Currently, the round-trip air from most major gateways in the USA to Frankfurt/Munich/Berlin and return is ranging from $735 - $1,295 depending on carrier, number of stops and the actual time of purchase and would be added to the land package proposal listed below. We will have group rates but will not contract an airline partner until at least one year before the "Big Event."

2006 "Follow Team USA" World Cup Tour & Travel Packages are sold on a First Come, First Serve basis for a limited time. This offer expires on Monday, February 21, 2005 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Package prices are in US DOLLARS, subject to change. Airline and customs departure taxes not included

We can not hold reservations or guarantee the above listed quotation without initial deposit payment. However, we can invoice you for the above listed proposal upon your confirmation and approval. Please give us a call if you have any questions or would like more details.

Thanks in advance for considering SoccerTravel, "The World Best Soccer Travel Company", as your travel package provider for the 2006 WC and looking forward to bringing you on the SoccerVacation of a lifetime!

Regards,
Antonio Paz

[SLO-Gunner]

The FIFA website says they will randonly check to see if the person holding the ticket is the person who registered for the ticket. My only concern is how much they will enforce this.

very rarely if at all. can you imagine 50K trying to get into a stadium as quickly as they can and the steward asks you pop out your passport for inspection? Their aim is to reduce re-selling of tickets on the black market, that's all.