Valcke denied FIFA plans to reduce prices or even give away tickets due to sales coming up short, but confirmed that the number of cheap tickets available to South African residents will be double.
“At this stage, we couldn't play the World Cup because Soccer City isn't ready…we have 700,000 tickets still to sell, at this stage I can make a list of things that aren't ready for the World Cup,” the FIFA executive said.
The world’s governing body has set a deadline of March 15 for completion of Soccer City, the stadium that will play host to opening game and the final.
In a separate report, South Africa’s tourism ministry Marthinus van Schalkwyk demanded a probe over the allegations that hotel prices are unreasonably high, just one month after similar claims about airline fares.
