Category four tickets still available

This category is the cheapest and was designed by FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) specifically for South Africans. Each category four match ticket costs R140.

This comes as more World Cup ticketing centres open for business this morning.

Following a spate of soccer madness last week, as fans rushed to buy over-the-counter tickets, 18 Shoprite-Checkers stores yesterday morning began selling tickets in all the nine World Cup host cities.

Fans can purchase tickets in Johannesburg at Checkers Hyper - Sandton, Checkers Hyper - Westgate, Checkers Hyper - Eastgate and in Pretoria at Checkers Hyper - Menlyn.

In Durban, tickets can be purchased at Checkers Hyper - Westville, Checkers - Hillcrest, Shoprite - Chatsworth; in Cape Town at Century City, Checkers - Plumstead; in Bloemfontein at Checkers - Langehovenpark and Shoprite - Heidedal.

In Port Elizabeth at the Shoprite - Redhouse, Shoprite - Newton Park; in Rustenburg at Shoprite - Mogwase, Shoprite - Brits; in Polokwane at Shoprite - Tzaneen; in Nelspruit at Shoprite - Nelspruit and Shoprite - White River.

At some ticketing centres and FNB branches last week, chaos was the order of the day, due to a high demand for over- the-counter tickets.

There were scenes of excitement, anger, frustration and outright chaos at many ticketing centres when problems emerged with the online system.

FIFA says these problems were sorted out and the 18 Shoprite Checkers stores were expected to make the process smoother.

By midday on Sunday, 145 000 tickets had been sold. Of these 82 000 tickets were sold via First National Bank branches, 33 000 through the FIFA website and call centre (083-123-2010) and 30 000 from ticketing centres around the country.

Due to the high demand for tickets, there are no tickets available for any matches in Durban and Cape Town, with only a few category one and category two tickets left for matches in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

FIFA has advised fans not to expect these tickets to be available at the Shoprite-Checkers stores.

"In case of the release of further tickets for these venues, fans will be informed beforehand. As with the other sales channels, customers need to bring their ID, credit card or cash and are entitled to purchase up to 10 tickets per match," FIFA said.