Americans snatch up tickets for next year's soccer World Cup

Who said Americans didn’t care about the beautiful game? Soccer is often ridiculed stateside as an activity better left to kindergartners, but it appears the sport holds plenty of interest among the United States’ adult population.

Exactly one year before the World Cup is held in South Africa, Americans have bought more tickets than citizens from any other country except for the residents of the host country, according to the latest figures from the Federation Internationale de Football Association, soccer’s governing body.

According to FIFA, 630,021 tickets have been sold so far for next year’s World Cup — the first ever to be held on African soil. Almost half of the tickets have been bought by South Africans, and American supporters have purchased 73,441 tickets. Next on the list are British fans with 42,907 tickets. Sales have come from 188 countries, a reminder of the global appeal of the sport.

Speaking of American soccer, the national team has arrived in South Africa to take part in the Confederations Cup, a two-week tournament that counts the champions of each continent as well as the world champions and the hosts among its participants.

The United States will face tough competition with group matches against Italy, Brazil and Egypt. The opening game of the tournament will pit hosts South Africa against Asian champions Iraq on Sunday.
 

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