WC Ticket information will be online 25-JAN

Thanks for the info, guys. We'll probably go for the first round of ticket offers. Good luck to everyone.

Alan

 

In response to your question:

32. In which cases will tickets be allocated in a different category or for fewer matches?
The ticket order forms provide the following options for ticket alternatives, in case your desired tickets should not be available. Check the appropriate boxes to increase your chances of successful participation in both draws.


“If no more seats are available in the price category I specify, I would accept a lower price category” - If you check “Yes”, and if your application has been accepted, and if your desired category has been sold out, availability of tickets in a lower category will be checked. If this is the case you will be provided with tickets in that lower category.
„If no more seats are available in the price category I specify, I would accept the next price category up” - If you check “Yes”, and if your order has been accepted, and if your desired category has been sold out, availability of tickets in the next higher category will be checked. If this is the case you will be provided with tickets in that higher category.
“If the TST series I selected is sold out, I would accept a TST series with fewer matches” - If you check “Yes”, and if your order has been accepted, and if your desired category has been sold out, availability of TST series with fewer matches will be checked. If this is the case you will be provided with that TST series.

 

Question: the first lottery will begin on the 1st and end on March 31st, after the first phase they will go through the lottery and notify people?? Also they will take all the apps during that timeframe and they are not dependent upon when you turn it in( so not a first come first serve basis), is that correct? So basically you can turn it in anytime in this first phase???

 

Hmmm. Interesting. They say that only fixed TST tix are available (7 games plan), but then they say the above. Are there other TST series options available or not?

 

Really? I didnt see that info anywhere.

 

I plan to purchase through U.S. Soccer.

 

Thanks. Between not having flex TST's, and that 10% handling fee above, they're really bending us over, eh?

 

I'll second this (having been a few rows in front of Bill in the crappy overpriced seats). What kinda stinks this time around is that the Cat-4 seats are the ones right behind the goal, but getting those seats ain't so easy, the way FIFA has set this up. The next best option is Cat-3, which appear to be the upper deck behind the goal seats. I'd much rather have the field level Cat-4's, but what can you do?

 

exactly. seems fifa realizes that there aren't many cat-4. In order to be most inclusive, fifa is limited the "so-called bad seats" - so more people can come to a few games.

But it blows.

 

After more than a few US games, this is my first attempt at going to a World Cup, and it seems, after two nights of parsing the glut of WC ticket information on the FIFA site and here on BS, it's a decision between (a) trying for tickets from the start to get the best chance, but running the risk of being seated in the middle of a sea of humanity with no Americans within arms length, and (b) waiting for the US allocation, by which time three sales periods have passed, but a ticket from the USSF means being able to stand with fellow American fans.

Did I get that right?

 

I believe you are correct. From my experience in Korea, FIFA attempts to put all supporters of one team together. The stadiums I attended were uniform in that each team's fans were at opposite ends.

 

I would not worry about being seated away from other USA fans if you buy through FIFA. Just heed the advice that others have given and I am about to give.

In Korea I purchased Cat 2 tickets. Every game I ended up in the upper corners of the stadium in a row that had all USA fans. There were always USA fans adjacent to me, as well as a mix of host country fans, opposing fans, and neutral fans. I remember seeing big chasms of empty seats in the primo sections on the sides, and my assumption is that these had been allocated to VIPs and sponsors. I would expect things to be the same in Germany.

The FIFA rules indicate that there is no guarantee that you will get adjacent tickets if you order more than one. Don't worry. The party atmosphere inside the stadium will guarantee that you will make some new friends, American or otherwise. Don't worry.

I managed to sneak into the end section where the big core of USA fans were for the Poland match. The atmosphere down there was far better than the rest of the stadium. Everyone was standing and it was sorta like the general seating arrangements that we try to keep at home games here. I made up my mind right then and there that I would buy the cheap tickets next time around so I could stand in that section for every game.

Finally, US Soccer will get an allocaiton of tickets if we qualify. It is highly likely that they'll make a block of those tickets available after qualification is set. That block will likely be in the Cat 3 or Cat 4 areas.

With that, the way I see it is that there are three simple options:

1. If you want the rowdy supporters section atmosphere (and trust me, you do), buy a Cat 3 TST package from FIFA and use US Soccer as a backup plan. We'll create a loud and exciting atmosphere and hopefully link up with the people who bought from US Soccer.
2. If you just want to see the games and you are not concerned with sitting near the big supporters section, buy a Cat 3 TST package from FIFA and use US Soccer as a backup plan. Do not buy Cat 1 or Cat 2 because you'll likely get worse seats.
3. If you are the type who does not want to sit near the loud, singing USA fans, buy a Cat 2 or Cat 1 TST package from FIFA so you can enjoy the peacefulness of the upper corners of the stadiums.

 

I don't have a Mastercard. Does anyone know if you are able to use one of those Mastercard gift cards as a way to pay for your tickets that way you just buy one instead of applying for the credit card? Also, is it absolutly necessary to have your passport cause it also says ID on the Fifa website? Could I us my Drivers License number cause I still have to renew my passport?

 

If it has a MasterCard logo, sixteen digits, and an expiration date, you could probably use it. Here's the problem. You have to have the proper credit line on that card. And you need to account for the exchange rate. They won't charge to the card immediately until you make the lottery cut. When they do later and it gets kicked back, your tickets are gone. To be safe, get yourself a standard MasterCard credit card with an adequate limit.

I think it's possible that a drivers license could be used, but I wouldn't chance it. You have time to renew your passport before the end of March when phase one ends. You're going to have to do it anyway, so why not now?

Good luck.

 

I apologize if these questions have been asked already, but after going through the whole thread and the FIFA faq, I didn't see them:

1.) The FIFA faq says one may apply for up to 7 matches. Does that mean if you apply for the TST 7, you can't apply for any individual matches?

2.) And is that 7 match restriction for the entire tournament, or just for this round of ticketing? In other words let's say I apply for and receive 7 matches (gotta think positive). Am I then prevented from purchasing any more tickets?

3.) If I successfully apply for individual tickets in the preliminary ticketing phases, will I be prevented from purchasing through US Soccer?

Thanks!

 

You can only apply for either Team Specific Tickets or Single tickets. You can't get both. Either follow a particular team for 3 to 7 matches or pick a particular match, e.g. A1 vs A2 on June 14 in Dortmund. Because you're buying during qualification, you won't know which teams will show up.

From what I've read, once you make a TST or Single choice, your ID/passport number can't show up on another ticket. If you wanted to attend another match outside your TST set, you'd have to see a scalper. My guess is that they want to open up the process to allow as many different people to attend matches as possible.

Good question. I've not seen anything specific on this, but I think that the same rules apply. Your ID can't show up on another set outside of what you ordered.

 

Oh man...that stinks. I was really hoping to try for both a USA ticket and a single ticket for the finals.

Thanks so much for your answers, even if they did make me sad.

 

You're certainly welcome. BTW, I think an TST-7 ticket would do this for you in a roundabout way if I'm reading your post correctly. According to the FIFA WC site:

"A TST 7 ticket entitles you to all three group matches, the round of sixteen match, the quarter-final match, the semi-final match, and the final match. A purchaser of a TST 4-7 ticket follows their team until that team is eliminated from the tournament. When their chosen team has been eliminated from the competition the customer will continue through the tournament following the team that has eliminated their chosen team from the tournament. If your desired team is eliminated in one of the final matches, with the TST being valid for subsequent matches, the ticket will be transferred to the winner of the respective final match. A corresponding rule applies in the case of that team being eliminated in turn."​

You'd see the USMNT as far as they go and follow each round of the winner until the final. Does this make sense?

 

Yes, perfect sense...I am an idiot. Clearly I did not read the faq closely enough. TST 7 it is.

Anyone know how the applications are evaluated? I assume it's not completely at random. For instance, would I have a better shot if I put in for the most expensive seats?

 

Mikeymike15 had a very good post somewhat related to this question. I've been thinking about this issue myself. I, too, doubt that it's completely random. For example, I think someone ordering an TST-3 CAT-1 for the USA is going to have a better shot that someone ordering an TST-7 CAT-3 for the German national team. In fact, that's what I'm ordering: two TST-3 CAT-1 USA seats. If I miss the cut, I'll go with USSF tickets. I just don't want to chance it.