Malawi’s 250 World Cup tickets sold out

It is too late for football fans in Malawi to buy 2014 World Cup tickets allocated to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) as they are all sold out.

Ahead of the June 12 World Cup kick-off in Brazil, FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed last Wednesday that Fifa allocated the association 250 tickets only.

“Tickets will be coming shortly, but they were already bought. We placed adverts last year inviting people to buy the tickets and sales closed in March. That is why some companies are able to run World Cup ticket winning competitions,” Nyirenda explained.

FAM will get some estimated 10 percent commission from the ticket sales with standard tickets pegged at $90 (K30 600), $10 (K3 400) more than in 2010 in South Africa.

FAM will know the actual amount when Fifa remits the commission. The Nation used K340=$ exchange rate.

Ticket sales opened last August, but football expert Felix Ngamanya Sapao does not expect most Malawians to travel to Brazil.

“I am not going to Brazil. I will be busy during the transfer window. Few individuals, maybe company-sponsored or winners of competitions will travel there,” said Sapao.

However, Fifa announced recently that international fans must pay from $440 to $990, in three category bands, to see the July 13 final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Fifa said prices start at $220 for the opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12. Top category seats will cost $495.

At the other 47 group-stage matches, seats will cost $90 in the cheapest Category Three band. Category One tickets will cost $175.

Tickets for the World Cup are sold globally on fifa.com. The first sales phase ended last October while the second one opened on December 8 2013.

Fifa said buyers can request a maximum of four seats per match for a maximum of seven matches.

Fifa said an additional 450 000 tickets have been reserved for corporate clients which Fifa licensed to Match Hospitality for $120 million.