Early bird football fans will see ‘the next Maradona’

Early bird football fans will see ‘the next Maradona’ for under $20 when FIFA U-20 World Cup goes on sale

- FIFA’s second largest men’s global tournament goes on sale to football family 28 April 2014

- Venue Packs unbelievable value for fans

- Football clubs to directly benefit with cash back rebates

- FIFA Inspectors say New Zealand is on-track to host the world’s best emerging players

- Nationwide trophy tour kicks off on 5 May

Football fans who get in early to purchase venue packs for next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup will be rewarded with a chance to witness the spotlight shine on football’s future superstars from less than $20 per match.

Ticket prices for FIFA’s second largest men’s global tournament were unveiled today at the conclusion of a 10 day venue visit by FIFA’s inspection team.

Tickets for the biggest global football festival ever staged in Australasia, will go on sale to the New Zealand football community on 28 April 2014, exactly nine months before the Official Draw will be broadcast live across the globe.

Key highlights of the ticket announcement are:

- Venue Packs to include all Group Matches and Round of 16 knock out in each stadium

- Fans purchasing venue packs get a minimum of 20% off ticket price while stocks last and first access to finals tickets

- Adult Venue Packs in each stadium average only $90, children only $30 in 2014.

- Football clubs to get cash back on all venue pack purchases

- Groups 8+ to claim an even bigger discount

- Individual tickets to go on sale after Official Draw in 2015

FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 CEO, Dave Beeche, explained that New Zealand’s football family, which makes up the largest sports participation base in the country, would be the first to access tickets for this landmark event.

“Our main ambition for this tournament is to fill the stadiums with people, noise, colour and passion in celebration of the world’s biggest global game coming to these shores. We wanted to ensure that price would not be a barrier for kiwis to say ‘I was there’ when the next global footballing superstar was discovered.

“One of the ways to do this was to reduce the price for fans to see as many games at their venue as possible, with venue packs including all group matches and the round of 16 knock out games across the seven venues.

Beeche said that the Local Organising Committee had surveyed fans across the country in order to get the ticket pricing right.

“Within the football community this tournament is seen as the must-see event in 2015, they realise that this may be their only opportunity to see the next Messi or Maradona live in their backyard. We want to reward that commitment by providing a 20% discount on venue packs in 2014. Kiwi football clubs will also benefit with a 5% cash back rebate on all venue packs sold this year,”

FIFA’s Marion Mayer-Vorfelder, Head of the FIFA U-20 World Cup who will over-see her fifth edition of this tournament in New Zealand, reiterated Beeche’s comments: “New Zealanders will be overwhelmed by the standard and quality of football played in this tournament, it really is the launch pad of our next international footballing superstars and we would urge all sports fans not to miss out on seeing these players in action.”

The announcement of ticket pricing came at the end of a 10 day tour of New Zealand by a FIFA inspection team, who have been looking at the seven host city stadiums, training venues and hotels to assess their readiness to host the world’s best young footballers.

Mayer-Vorfelder said her team had been hugely impressed with facilities across New Zealand as well as the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the Host Cities and Football Federations.

”The key to the success of hosting such a globally significant tournament is collaboration with partners. Having met the team responsible for staging this festival of football, we feel hugely confident that the event is in very safe hands in New Zealand.

“I was fortunate enough to see Lionel Messi play at this tournament only in 2005, and it is this calibre of player which fans in New Zealand will get to see live in 2015. Already I can feel the anticipation building across the country.”

The FIFA U-20 Trophy was also on display for the ticket announcement in Auckland. New Zealanders will get a chance to see the Trophy as it travels throughout the country from 5 May - 30 May 2014, concluding exactly one year before the tournament kicks off.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 starts on 30 May 2015 and concludes on 20 June 2015. Matches will be played across seven Host Cities – Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington and Whangarei,

Christchurch and Auckland will host the two semi-finals, with the showcase final hosted by Auckland’s North Harbour stadium.

The final draw for the tournament will be televised live at a high-profile event at the end of January 2015.

More than 10.000 international visitors are expected to travel to New Zealand for the tournament, which attracts an international television audience of over 170 million.

*Booking fees are additional on all ticket purchases and tickets are subject to availability.

In recognition of Visa's valued sponsorship FIFA prefers Visa.

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