If the World Cup was decided by ticket sales, Australia would finish fifth.
Australians hold about 50,000 tickets for soccer’s showpiece event starting in June in Brazil, Football Federation Australia (FFA) says.
The FFA says about 8000 Australians have tickets, the fifth-most of competing nations.
And on a per capita basis, Australia tops all other countries, according to a major worldwide ticket marketplace website.
The website viagogo says a survey of its search trend reveals Australia has the highest demand for tickets to the Brazil World Cup, and Australians are spending an average of more than $1270 on tickets.
“Australia’s love affair with sport is at its peak with the World Cup, it’s easily our most popular international event, with over 2.5 million ticket searches,” viagogo spokesman Alex Levenson said on Wednesday.
A total of about 3.3 million tickets will be sold for the World Cup.
Some 2.5 million tickets have already have been allocated, including through FIFA’s hospitality programs, while the general public has purchased about 1.5 million tickets.
FIFA opened the final online sales phase overnight and tickets for almost two-thirds of matches sold out within hours.
Only 15 of the 64 games still had tickets available 10 hours into the sales phase, which released nearly 200,000 tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Australia’s encounter with Spain in Curitiba on June 23 was one of 10 high-demand games with tickets not available from the beginning.
Others on the protected list include the cup opener between Brazil and Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12 and the final at Rio de Janiero’s famed Maracana Stadium on July 13.
In FIFA’s last online sales phase, Brazilian citizens purchased some 63 per cent of the tickets, followed by fans from the US, Colombia, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, France, England, Chile and Australia.
FIFA is expected to put more tickets on sale when it knows more about the seating charts at the the three of the 12 World Cup venues still yet to be completed.
From June 1, remaining tickets can only be purchased over the counter at FIFA ticketing centres in Brazil.
Brick Tamland of the Pants Party
Guest
Well just based on the last two I'd say the bulk will be backing the Socceroos.Im actually quite shocked we are taking that many as we have an average side plus the extreme costs,hassle of travel around such a big country no to mention its a pretty dangerous place at the best of times for a traveller and that's without the inevitable protests that will be occurring!
Brick Tamland of the Pants Party
Guest
Being so apparently affluent doesn't seem to help our other National sporting sides pull those kind of numbers to stadiums abroad though.I wonder why that is the Union,League and Cricket sides actually stand a chance of winning their respective World Cups.
JAJI
Guest
I am going - my fourth World Cup having followed the Roos for 25 years. Been an absolute debacle organising - Brazil is a shambles - Africa 100 times easier 4 years ago
Stevo
Guest
Many may also be residents of Australia but going to support other countries such as Italy or Japan. Both have many fans in Oz.
Bondy
Guest
Steveo I would've thought Arg Chile Col would've been doing it tough financially overall, at least they surprised me. Thanks Stavros ,by the way which commercial tv stations do genuinely have football journalists and will they be going ? .
Stavros
Guest
Classic post Bondy. Just when I think you have reached the zenith, you then manage to outdo yourself.
AZ_RBB
Guest
latter*
bill boomer
Guest
Think I'll withdraw, being no match for such rapier wit.
AZ_RBB
Guest
7,302 are actual fans. 698 are just event goes. Police have been sent to the houses of the former.
bill boomer
Guest
Yes but how many are actual fans of the game and how many are just event goers?
steveo
Guest
what it illustrates is that australians can afford the tickets prices to these events, with probably the most disposable income per person in all the countries that are playing in the world cup.
Paul
Guest
Nevertheless, many still missed out. FIFA's ticketing processes were an absolute joke. Many could not even get into the website for the final ticketing phases.
Stevo
Guest
Football in this country is gaining more respect every year. The days when the sport is openly mocked by the mainstream media will soon be gone and on a number of measures football has overtaken rugby union which would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Children who would have been reluctant to admit liking the game in the past are now happy to openly admit liking the game. No doubt the Asian cup will help (assuming it is a success) as would hosting the World Cup but that will not happen any time soon. The future for football in Australia is rather bright.
pete4
Guest
Great to hear so many Roos supporters are heading over. In football believe anything is possible!!
Bondy
Guest
It really does illustrate that Australia actually is a genuine footballing nation ,its a pity commercial TV stations in Australia dont see it that way they prefer Commonwealth events that you wont see even at a Commonwealth games. One could suggest another landmarked moment for Australian Football.