It’s one of the most sought after tickets of the year. Not only is it the World Cup – but the first one in Africa. Today sees 100 days to kick off. But who’s going to be there? Are you or anyone you know? Fifa admits the rush for tickets hasn’t been entirely as fast as they would like. Cost, travel difficulties and concern about security are some of the reasons why fans are reluctantly deciding to stay at home. And the stay away is particularly in Africa. We’ve done an unscientific straw poll in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Nigeria, and almost to a man, the people we asked said they didn’t have the money. Consider this: The cheapest World Cup ticket for anyone outside South Africa is $80. The average monthly wage in Cameroon is $56.
We’re talking about it this morning on The World Today. Tell us what you think here.
RSS feed
BBC World Have Your Say 
I think it’s a shame that many Africans are unable to afford to attend any World Cup games. I would be more than willing to sponsor the cost of a ticket so that an African would be able to attend this event, the hosting of which is a huge source of Pan-African pride. Do you think that there is a way to facilitate such a program through which the more economically-fortunate could donate to pay for tickets for Africans to attend? I think a good number of people would be happy to do this!
RE “” Fifa admits the rush for tickets hasn’t been entirely as fast as they would like “”
—————————————————————-
————— Fifa blew it with the locale. If you’re gonna put it in a poor country like Africa, at least make it so a few poor Africans can attend.
As it is, the world is under no impression that this SA regime is any better than the worst of apartheid, and in fact may be a more dangerous place in Johannesburg.
Africa as a continent should not be regarded by many as poor as they may think, although we are democratically unstable that should not be translated as poor Africans, Lets see after three months, for me in Southern Sudan, I will just drive together with my colleagues from Addis Ababa and Tripoli, for us its simple, may be those at Madagascar. its gonna be colourful.
And if there is a programe to donate the money to pay for african to attend, i will rather advice you to used that money to give to Either Somalia, Darfur, DRC congo than that, any way I will appriciate any donation but not for tickets.
Clement Lochio Lomornana of chukudum Juba southern Sudan
Yes they have been, but that’s to be expected if you hold a tournament in the world’s poorest continent. Ticket prices should not be inflated but the tournament’s organizers have the right to make a profit, otherwise it becomes charity, a charity that doesn’t help Africans develop in any way, so the money would be better spend elsewhere.
Yes they have. And that’s sad.
Africa and Africans don’t do evil to the rest of the world like some parts of the planet do. In fact, Africans love everybody. Yet, the rest of the world has a lot of contempt and hate for Africans. Why is that? Just a couple of weeks ago, I heard the president of the German footbal team, Bayern Munich, Uli Hoeness say: “South Africa should not be staging World Cup” . It’s scary to hear such a statement from an experienced international sport’s personality in the 21st century.
http://www.sports-city.org/news_details.php?news_id=10666&idCategory=74
My interest in the World Cup is pretty anemic, but Africa is one of those countries to whom it matters a lot, and it’s a shame most Africans cannot afford to go. But I’m sure there will be Africans in pubs and homes everywhere watching and celebrating with their friends.
Your average american cannot afford Superbowl tickets. Why should tickets for the premier sporting event be “affordable”?
people think the security situation in africa is worse, how wrong they are. take for example if the world cup was to be held i US or Britain this would be a terrorism target. its time the world gave africans a chance to enjoy big events like these.
Probably so and thats sad. But it goes with the territory. Here in the United States I can’t afford a ticket to the Superbowl or some of the other major sports events. Tickets to alot of these type events are very expensive even for some of the weathy countries. But maybe the African hosts can benefit from the tourist side of the event. The hotels, resturants and shops can get a boost for their businesses.
poor africans……i could not afford to go and watch Euro in swizterland since the tickets were sold for stupid to very stupid money.
So people want to sponsor Africans to go to watch soccer, when there are TONS of starving Africans? REALLY? I don’t understand that.
-Anthony, LA, CA
This is a problem with modern football and FIFA in general. They only have an interest in Big Business and making money. An example of this is the recent League Cup Final (English) where as many tickets where given to commercal interests as the groups of fans. This is the reason why tickets are so high across the world not just the world cup.
Liam
Bath, UK
The media in particular has helped dumped Africa just to attract people to the news. Or else there are many other ugly things happening in other parts of the world but hardly appear on the news. If Africa is ever to be a better place, this same media will have to play a positive role and change the will it protray Africa negatively. As an AFRICAN, I am sad that even though the rest of the world benefit a lot more from this RICH Continent, yet they continue to speak negatively about her. God bless and long live the poeple of Africa.
I think the analogy to the Superbowl is somewhat misplaced. First, the Superbowl is an annual event and always in the US. And if there was a country for whose residents the cost of a Superbowl ticket was less than a day’s wages and they offered to pay for my ticket, I’d gladly take it.
And the argument that there are tons of starving Africans – by that measure, should all these resources be put towards hosting such an extravagant event in the first place?
I agree with McGee. For a better example, I am able to say that, although my husband and I live only about 60 miles from the proposed 2012 Olympic venue in East London, we will (a) be unable to afford tickets for entry to watch anything and (b) we will be unable to afford the fares to get there. Yes, we have a car but there will be very little car parking and even that will cost money. We are of the generation that saves, owes nothing and spends what we can afford to spend.
I still find it hard to believe that they put the World Cup in SA. It’s still recovering from Apartheid and it’s stupidities and countries near it aren’t much better off. All the money that went to new stadiums could have gone to education and bettering the society. There wouldn’t be any tourist money if they aren’t safe. I watched a show the other day called ” Dangerous Drives ” or something like that and 1 part of the show had a family traveling from Johannesburg to a vineyard in the country to dine with friends. It took 3 coordinated security cars zigzagging on the freeway trying to keep people from throwing rocks from the over passes, to stop the cars so they could be hijacked. That is just crazy. I wouldn’t want to live there or visit with that type of thing going on right on the freeway. I can see why Europeans are concerned for their safety there and not buying tickets.
You would think that those in charge would section off the top portion of the stadiums for South Africans and make the prices with in the means of average South Africans. $20 tickets in the nose bleed section isn’t so bad, compared to having empty seats. Better to make a little money than no money for a seat.
It’s just greedy people out pricing their demographic customer majority.
Just the fact that we as South Africans have this opportunity to host the worldcup is amazing. I think the negativity about prices, tickets and other concerns is higher than it actually is. I personally am SO excited for these next 100 days to pass. I can’t think of anything better for our country. Sure, there will be problems that people will comment on and criticise. But I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am as a South African and how good this will be for our country.
We have come such a long way, and even though our resources in Africa are not the ones of first world country’s, we sure have tried. and I think we are going to be highly successful in hosting this incredible event.
Pricing of any commodity or anything, including events/shows anywhere should be in accordance with the average per capita income of the common people; their affordability must be the criteria. But, it’s a matter of shame, that, most of the times, most of the pricing is done in total disregard of the financial condition of the general public or the ordinary people (thanks to the modern economics!!!). If South Africa is that concerned for the spirit of the game, in this world event, and its own image/reputation, then it may be imperative and wise to reduce the minimum price of the ticket (for the general stands in the stadiums) to $20 or less; otherwise, the organizers of the event and the government might not be able to face/stand the pathetic/dismal sight of the empty stands.
I believe in what Africans can do.We are capable of incredible achievements at the mundial.