Source: http://www.shine2010.co.za/Community/blogs/fnb2010/archive/2009/03/03/2010-fifa-world-cup-tickets-now-on-sale.aspx

There are five ticket sales phases, designed to ensure that globally everyone has a fair chance of obtaining tickets to the 2010 World Cup match they want.

The actual ticket sales phases are:

20 February 2009 - 31 March 2009 Valid applications received for any match, or particular ticket category, that is over-subscribed, will go into a global random draw (this will particularly apply to ‘hot’ matches like the Opening Match, the Semi-Finals and the Final). This ticket draw will take place on 15 April 2009. Confirmation of successful applications will be notified approximately 72 hours after this draw.

4 May 2009 - 16 November 2009 Valid applications will be accepted and fulfilled on a ‘first come, first served’ basis – subject to availability for the match/es and the ticket category/ies applied for. Confirmation of successful applications will be notified within approximately 10 working days.

5 December 2009 – 22 January 2010, immediately after the Final Draw for the 32 participating nations. It is at this stage that the world will know who is playing who, when and where and the pressure for 2010 World Cup tickets will really intensify. All valid ticket applications received during this time will again go into a global random draw which will take place on 1 February 2010. Confirmation of successful applications will be notified approximately 72 hours after this draw.

9 February 2010 - 1 April 2010 Again, valid applications will be accepted and fulfilled on a ‘first come, first served’ basis – subject to availability for the match/es and the ticket category/ies applied for. Confirmation of successful applications will be notified within approximately 10 working days.

The fifth and final ‘Last Minute’ 2010 World Cup tickets sales phase will open on 15 April 2010 and remain open until the Final is played on 11 July 2010. Tickets will be purchased ‘real-time’ on a first come first served basis via www.fifa.com and over the counter at to-be-announced locations across South Africa.

How to apply

Residents of South Africa can apply for the 2010 World Cup tickets online or at a First National Bank (FNB) branch. Online 2010 ticket applications must be made through the ticketing website at www.FIFA.com. Remember that 2010 FIFA World Cup™ prefers Visa and that you should ensure that your card is authorised for online transactions.

Those applying for tickets in person must complete a 2010 World Cup ticket application form, which are available at FNB branches throughout the country.

The 2010 World Cup ticket application form must be completed subject to the household limitations on ticket purchases (a maximum of 4 tickets per household, up to a maximum of 7 matches) and returned to an FNB teller. The form will require you to choose which games you would like to attend, as well as supply personal details of the main applicant and guests.

When the form is returned to the branch, the teller will ask the applicant to make payment for the tickets. Once this is done the teller will load the payment onto a FNB Visa Zakumi Prepaid Card, which the lead applicant must retain to pick up tickets.

Applicants will not be able to spend the money loaded onto this card, until the application has been processed. However, it is possible to close the account prior to the successful processing of the ticket application and receive back 100% of the funds that were loaded onto the card.

If the 2010 World Cup ticket application is successful, the corresponding amount will be deducted from the FNB Visa Zakumi Prepaid Card and the applicant will receive an SMS confirming that your application was successful. If the application is unsuccessful, or only partially successful, funds will made available for you to use for other transactions with other retailers that accept Visa cards, or you can draw the full cash value at any FNB ATM.

Notification

Depending on the sales phases, 2010 ticket applicants will either be notified within ten days of their application (first-come first-served phases) or within 3 days of the completion of the random selection draw process.

Applicants will be notified of whether or not their applications have been successful and how many tickets they have been allocated by SMS or email. Applicants who do not provide email or SMS details will be required to call a ticketing hotline (083 123 2010) to determine the status of their ticket applications.

Ticket collection

2010 World Cup tickets will be available for collection from April 2010 onwards at FIFA collection points in each of the 9 host cities. The details of these collection points will be detailed closer to the time.

Customers who purchase their 2010 World Cup tickets online using one of their own existing payment cards will be able to use their payment card (the one used for the online transaction) at the ticket collection points to identify their order and print their tickets.