Chinese snap up World Cup tickets

Fans in Japan line up for tickets, while others are turning to the Internet

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Chinese fans have surprised World Cup officials by flocking to buy tickets for this summer's finals.

"We have been amazed to see a huge take-up by China," Ged Holmes, from football's world governing body FIFA, told CNN on Monday.

Holmes says the interest was probably because China is making its debut in the finals, hosted by Japan and South Korea.

Fans from England, the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, who all traditionally have large travelling support, are also snapping up tickets. "Argentina were very quick off the blocks too although it did tail off once when their economy unravelled," added Holmes, director of marketing for FIFA's World Cup ticket bureau.

But take-up from the French, Germans, Italians and Spanish has been slower than expected. "I've been surprised that the French have not been tripping over themselves to get out there," added Holmes.

This is the first World Cup where FIFA is distributing tickets directly though its Web site rather than handing them to tour operators.

The names and passport numbers of buyers will be stamped on the tickets and FIFA is checking applicants with databases held by national football associations to freeze out known hooligans. Each fan can only buy for up to four people, with their names matching the tickets to prevent them being sold on.

Tickets cost from $60 for a seat behind a goal at one of the group games, up to $750 for one of the best spots at the final. Organisers expect the tournament as a whole to be 90 percent capacity.

But they are warning fans to be wary of tour operators advertising tickets on the Internet. Holmes said private firms may offer deals they cannot honour.

Half of the tickets go to the host nations, Japan and South Korea, where they are hot property. "We've never seen hosts with as much appetite," added Holmes. "The residents out there are very keen."