World Cup tickets go fast as tournament approaches

The remaining tickets for the most important World Cup matches were sold out fast on Wednesday, disappointing hundreds of fans who waited in line across Brazil.

Tickets for the opener, the final and the two semifinals were sold out shortly after becoming available on FIFA’s website at midnight Wednesday Brazilian time (0300 GMT). All matches in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro also sold out quickly online.

The tickets not sold online would be put on sale at ticket centers across the country the following morning. However, only matches between less prominent teams were still available by the time the centers opened, prompting complaints from many fans who spent the night in line to get a ticket.

About 180,000 extra tickets were made available by FIFA for all 64 matches of the monthlong tournament that begins next week.

There were long waits for people trying to purchase the tickets on FIFA’s website. Fans were put on virtual waiting lines before being redirected to the actual ticketing site. Some people had to wait nearly two hours to get in.

— The Associated Press