FIFA gives away free tickets for Confederations Cup semifinal match between Spain and US

FIFA gives away free tickets for Spain-US match

JOHANNESBURG — FIFA is giving away some free tickets for the Confederations Cup semifinal match between Spain and the United States.

The governing body of world soccer said Tuesday there were about 6,000 tickets still on sale for the match at the 38,000-seat Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

“There will be a certain number of tickets given on a complimentary basis,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said. “Again, it’s a gesture from FIFA … for people to have a chance to enjoy this game.”

After sparse crowds in the opening few matches of the World Cup warm-up event in South Africa, FIFA decided to distribute tickets to certain institutions such as schools and local authorities to hand out for free. FIFA, however, has not said how many tickets have been given out for any of the matches thus far.

For the other semifinal match in Johannesburg between Brazil and South Africa, FIFA said there are 2,000 top-price tickets costing $120 still available, but no free tickets have been given out for that match at Ellis Park.

Tickets at this year’s Confederations Cup range from $10 to as high as $200 for the final, which is well out of the reach of many poor people in South Africa, where unemployment is about 25 percent.

The average attendance through the 12 matches at this year’s tournament is 34,783, according to FIFA. The best attended match so far was the Group B game between Egypt and Italy, which drew 52,150 to Ellis Park to watch the Egyptians upset the world champions 1-0.

Security has also been an issue at this year’s Confederations Cup, with both Brazil and Egypt reporting that some of their hotel rooms have been burgled. FIFA, however, reiterated that it believes local authorities will keep an estimated 450,000 visitors for next year’s 32-team tournament safe.

“There is a security plan for the Confederations Cup. There is a security plan for the World Cup, and we trust the South African authorities to secure both events,” Maingot said.

World Cup organizing committee spokesman Jermaine Craig said the Confederations Cup was a useful tool in getting ready for next year.

“A lot of learning is coming from this particular tournament,” Craig said.