Organizers say ticket sales improving for Confederations Cup, two-thirds sold so far

Ticket sales improving for Confederations Cup

JOHANNESBURG — Organizers say that two-thirds of Confederations Cup tickets have been sold and that the opening match will likely be a sellout.

South Africa plays Iraq to kick off the two-week tournament on Sunday at the 61,000-capacity Ellis Park stadium. Chief organizer Danny Jordaan said on Wednesday that 85 percent of tickets for the match had been sold and he expected the rest to be picked up before kickoff.

The 16-game tournament, a dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup, runs from Sunday until June 28.