FIFA Completes First Phase of World Cup Ticket Sales

(ATR) Three-quarters of a million tickets for the 2018 World Cup have been allocated before the countries have been drawn into their respective groups.

Falk Eller, head of ticketing at FIFA, said that the number of tickets allocated shows "great interest" in the event just over six months out. The full field of 32 teams qualified for the World Cup is known, but the draw that will determine matchups in Russia is set for this week.

Regardless, FIFA says that 742,760 tickets were allocated as part of the first phase of sales. Just over half of those tickets were allocated to Russians with 47 percent allocated to international consumers. Despite not qualifying, the United States was the foreign country with the most ticket requests.

On Dec. 5, a second lottery phase will open for ticket sales. By then the world will know the composition of the eight World Cup groups. Included in this lottery phase are tickets specifically for domestic purchase in Russia.

After the draw, two new types of tickets will become available - supporters and conditional tickets. These tickets give registered supporters the chance to purchase specific games featuring the country in which they are registering from.

These supporter tickets will allow fans to see their home country play in the World Cup. Conditional tickets will be for knockout round stages that each country could potentially play in.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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