This process has seen additional tickets become available for some of the matches in Cape Town and Durban. However, the opening match, the first round match Brazil versus Portugal, the two semi-finals and the final are all unavailable, a statement said.

The Local Organising Committee announced on Wednesday that there were fewer than 300,000 tickets for the World Cup available.

"We are approaching 90 percent of ticket sales for the World Cup," said Greg Fredericks, who is the head of the office of the CEO.

He said tickets were still available for matches in Mbombela, Polokwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. But most matches in Gauteng were sold out.

However, football fanatics were reminded that the best teams and players in the world will compete in this FIFA World Cup and therefore there are no "small" matches.

"All 32 teams will compete at the highest level in a unique ambience", said Horst R. Schmidt, Chairman of FIFA's ticketing sub-committee.

Over-the-counter sale points are available in at least 11 ticketing centres, 18 selected Shoprite/Checkers and more than 600 FNB branches nationwide. People can reach the call centre on 083 123 2010 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              083 123 2010      end_of_the_skype_highlighting seven days a week between 9am and 6pm.

So far, more than 230 000 tickets have been sold during the current fifth and last sales phase which commenced on 15 April with 173,500 tickets sold over the counter while the remainder went on sale via FNB branches, Shoprite/Checkers and ticketing centres.

Host country South Africa is leading the ticket sales with approximately 1,150,000 tickets purchased by locals. The United States follows with around 130 000, the UK at 97,000, Australia at 43,000, Germany 40 000, Mexico 36 000, Japan 22 000, Brazil 18 000, Canada 17 000 and Switzerland 16 000.