FIFA World Cup: Over 90% of Tickets Sold for Soccer Mundial

Nearly 3 million tickets have been sold for the forthcoming soccer World Cup in Qatar, FIFA and organizers said Monday, leaving about 6% of seats still available.

Soccer fans living in the United States, Saudi Arabia and England topped the list of international ticket buyers, while Mexico was the biggest market outside Qatar for corporate hospitality sales.

More tickets will become available before the tournament starts on Nov. 20, FIFA’s tournament director Colin Smith said at a news conference in Doha held with Qatari organizers.

Tickets can typically become available late because stakeholders such as sponsors and FIFA member federations return them from their quotas.

Hotels, Apartments and Cruise Ships booked to Capacity

About 1.2 million international visitors are expected in Qatar for the 29-day tournament with extra accommodation still being added to avoid a shortage of rooms in the tiny emirate.

Qatari officials said 2 million separate room nights have already been sold to fans — in hotels, apartments, cruise ships and some camping sites — with 30,000 room options now added to the capacity.

Those new rooms added a total capacity of about 1 million room nights, said Yasir Al Jamal, director general of the Qatari organizing committee.

Extra capacity was added last week with the hiring of a third, 1,075-cabin cruise ship to dock in Doha port as a floating hotel. Prices started at $470 each night during the opening two weeks when all 32 teams are still involved.