FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP UAE 2013 TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY! @fifaU17 @FIFAcom #u17wc

Venue packages now on sale for the 15th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup

Tickets for the highly anticipated FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 – taking place from October 17 to November 8 - go on sale to the public today on www.fifa.com/u17worldcup and through calling 800 STADIA (800 782342) toll-free from inside the UAE (+97156 2255927 from outside the UAE).

Ahead of the Official Draw on August 26, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) announced the sale of exclusive early bird venue packages at a special event in Dubai’s Wafi Mall. The venue packages allow fans to purchase a ticket for every match of the tournament in their selected host venue (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah) at a discounted rate.

Each venue offers two ticket categories, ranging from just 35AED for category two in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah up to 240AED for category one in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, meaning the UAE’s largest ever football celebration is affordable for all. Abu Dhabi venue packages include the third/fourth place match and the final, but fans opting for packages in other venues have the option to add the third/fourth place match and final to their package for 10AED (category two), or 40AED (category one).

The LOC celebrated this milestone by unveiling a special ‘Legends Wall’ in Wafi Mall, Dubai. The huge 6m x 3m wall was designed by renowned Dubai-based graffiti artists Sya & Bow, and features a young footballer volleying the official match ball of the tournament – the adidas Cafusa.

Fans and families are encouraged to get involved by leaving a good luck message on the legends wall for their favourite U-17 teams and players - the legends of tomorrow.

From Wednesday June 26 until Saturday June 29 the wall will be installed in the main entrance atrium area at Wafi Mall, where fans can leave their messages from 5.30pm – 9.30pm each day. At the end of the installation, tournament ambassador Omar Abdulrahman will choose his ten favourite messages and those ten lucky fans will win tournament merchandise signed by Omar himself.

Abdulrahman commented, “I am looking forward to seeing huge support for the tournament across the UAE. Fans around the world should log on to www.fifa.com/u17worldcup to secure their match tickets and get behind their team! This tournament has been the birthplace for many of the legends we see in the game today - international names like Luis Figo, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Petit and rising star Neymar all started out competing in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, so we can definitely expect to see some spectacular football.”

“This is a region that is crazy about football and with the 24 best U-17 teams in the world finally coming together in October to compete for the FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy I am confident that tickets will sell fast.” said the 21-year-old UAE Player of the Year.

HE Mohammed Abdulla bin Bdoua, Tournament Director, added: “We are very excited to launch the FIFA U-17 World cup ticket sales to the public today. Our objective is to host a tournament where everyone is welcome and fans and families can enjoy a memorable experience at each of our six UAE stadiums. With less than four months to go until the tournament kicks off we urge fans to go out and buy their tournament ticket today.”

A total of 52 matches will be played over a three week period in six of the UAE’s top stadiums – Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah Stadium in Fujairah, Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah, Rashid Stadium in Dubai and Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain.

The final 24 qualified nations will begin the tournament in six groups of four, with the top two teams in each group automatically qualifying for the Round of 16. The four best third-placed teams from the Group stages will also progress to the knock-out stages.          

The FIFA U-17 world Cup UAE 2013 Official Draw will take place on August 26, when single match tickets will also go on sale. For more information and to buy tickets visit www.fifa.com/u17worldcup. Check out all the latest tournament news with #u17wc on Twitter.