FIFA U-17 World Cup tickets a sellout in Kolkata again

Kolkata, July 5: In less than twelve hours after re-opening, phase I tickets for the FIFA U-17 World Cup matches, to be held at the Salt Lake stadium here, were sold out, according to the FIFA website.

Much like the first time, when in almost similar time the website had marked "sold out" in red, football fanatics of the city which will host the final of the youth showpiece on October 28 latched on to the opportunity and bought tickets in no time.

Ticket sales for phase I are scheduled to end on July 7 after the official draw to be held in Mumbai.

Besides Kolkata, Guwahati and Kochi are the other two centres which have opened phase I ticket sales but are yet to be sold out.

Only tickets in categories 1 to 3 are available in phase I with a 60 per cent discount.

"The response from Kolkata was again amazing, buying all the inventory put out for sale in less than 10 hours. It shows how much the World Cup really means for all the football lovers in the city and that we will definitely have an atmosphere of celebration for the tournament," Local organising Committee (LoC) Tournament Director Javier Ceppi said. 

"The other venues where ticket sales were opened again are also looking very good and it is a huge step in the right direction to make football take over India in October," the Chilean added.

The U-17 World Cup, hosted by India for the first time, will start on October 6.