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Sports

Only 25,000 tickets go directly to fans at World Cup opener in Brazil

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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China soccer fans look at a list of tickets for sale for World Cup soccer games at the Ibirapuera Gym in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. Tickets for the World Cup opener were sold out fast, as fans lined up in the cold to try to buy what was left for the other matches. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) (The Associated Press)

SAO PAULO – FIFA says less than half of the tickets available for the World Cup opener next week went directly to the general public, with most being reserved to commercial partners, broadcasters, local organizers and hospitality programs.

FIFA said Sunday that of the 61,600 tickets available for the Brazil-Croatia match on Thursday, only 25,630 were sold to the general public. About 10,000 additional tickets are going to fans through promotional activities.

Football's governing body said more than 1,500 tickets were reserved for VIPs, and about the same number is going to journalists.

More than 13,750 tickets went to hospitality programs, and 12,600 to commercial affiliates and broadcasters. Local organizers and the football community, including association members, received 6,600 tickets.