Being part of a major sporting event is an experience that comparatively few of us experience - but one which lives with us for the rest of our lives. Having traveled in 2006 to the World Cup Finals in Germany, I would strongly recommend going to football’s most prestigious tournament if you are lucky enough to get the chance.

Unfortunately, obtaining tickets for the World Cup Finals is easier said than done. The next World Cup will be held in South Africa in 2010. To make the tournament more accessible to the local South African community, FIFA have taken the unprecedented step of making 120,000 tickets available for free to the local people. These tickets will cover all rounds of the competition, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final itself.

Naturally, this greatly reduces the amount of tickets available to the general public, however given that the ten stadiums being used for the tournament hold an average of around 50,000 people per match, there are still going to be plenty of tickets available to supporters.

FIFA have created four categories of tickets for the 2010 Finals, with an average ticket price of around $139. This is roughly the same as the average price for the 2006 Finals in Germany. The cheapest tickets (category 4) will be available for only $20, but will be exclusive to the South African public to give them an opportunity to experience the tournament. The maximum price will be $900 which will be the cost of a category 1 ticket to the 2010 World Cup Final. Although the price is excessive, if you can afford it then it is well worth paying because it will be a once in a lifetime experience.

The first chance to get your hands on tickets for the 2010 World Cup Finals will be in June 2008. However, these will be exclusive to the South African market, who will have priority to secure priceless 2010 World Cup final tickets, before the general public sale begins in September.

These will not be “normal” tickets though but rather “packages”, which will include hospitality, travel and accommodation. MATCH Hospitality secured FIFA hospitality rights to the 2010 World Cup finals and will be responsible for all hospitality packages for the tournament finals. A standard packages will include a match ticket, hospitality services, parking, special access and entertainment. A full hospitality package could include accommodation, transport, tours and possibly flights.

Purchasing a hospitality package would be the perfect way to enjoy the World Cup Finals. However, if this is out with your budget you may prefer to purchase a standard match ticket for the finals. These tickets will go on sale in February 2009. FIFA will organize a public sale for these tickets. In keeping with previous tournaments, there will be a short window of opportunity to register your interest to purchase a 2010 World Cup ticket. A ballot will then be held with the lucky participants given a deadline to complete the purchase. “Rejected” tickets are then put into a second round of ballot.

Also for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France tickets are also being distributed to worldwide travel companies so that they can arrange special travel packages.

Due to the short window FIFA allow to apply for tickets, it is vital that you are organized and know exactly when this window will open. We would recommend signing up for our email notification service, which will inform you when tickets are available to purchase. You should also read our 2010 World Cup Guide, which includes details on cities, stadiums and travel information - helping you pick out your preferred destination to maximize your experience.

Going to a major tournament is not just about the match you will see. It is about the whole experience - the atmosphere at the game and in and around the time, the experience of visiting a new city and experiencing the local culture at it’s most vibrant and being part of such a major event which captures the imagination of the whole world. There’s always another time for the normal holiday that you would go on - why not try something special and get yourself a ticket for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!

Barcelona FC play their home games at a magnificent stadium in the centre of the city and one of the biggest tourist attractions when visiting Barcelona is going to their famous Camp Nou home ground.

This world famous football stadium has seen many great matches over the years and most of the world’s greatest football players at one time or another. It has also played host to the final stages of major competitions. The Camp Nou or Noucamp stadium can hold up to one hundred thousand spectators and is truly one of the world’s great sports arenas.

With Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry in the crop of current stars but luminaries such as Johann Cruyff glittering through the past the old place really has seen it all down the decades. The worlds best players have played in some all time great matches on the turf of the Nou Camp.

So - you might ask - how do you get a ticket for a Barcelona match if you are visiting the city?

You’ve got several options but do remember that the team have been in superb form since 2005 and it is not always easy to get a seat for match day when they are playing this well - good play and good results tend to bring old closet fans out of the woodwork. Getting a Barcelona FC ticket also depends on what time of year you plan to go. Some tickets are always available direct at Camp Nou stadium, or you can book them by phone and theoretically online. Football tickets can also be purchased through the serviCaxi ticket buying service. If you are not a club member of Barcelona FC (equivalent to a season ticket holder in the UK) then you need to buy your tickets by phone or online at least 15 days before the match. Their is an internet booking service but it has a reputation for unreliability at times.

Tickets for a match can cost anything from 30 euros to 120 euros with the price depending on where you sit and on how big the match is. On match days there are ticket touts all around the stadium and to be fair, most of these people are usually members who have a spare ticket. But be careful of rip offs and conmen with forged tickets. If they claim to be a member with a spare seat then get them to take you into the stadium with them and don’t hand over your cash until you are sitting comfortably in your seat.

Some games are simply impossible to get tickets for - for example: if you are thinking of gong to see Barcelona vs. real Madrid, then don’t bother unless you have very large amounts of spare cash on hand. Major matches like this are pretty much impossible to get tickets for this game as it is the biggest game of the year for both of these clubs.

Taking in a match and seeing Barcelona F.C play at Camp Nou is certainly something that you should do if you are a football fan - it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience.

On non match days you can also buy a ticket for a tour around the stadium where you just might have the chance to meet one of the super stars from the team and pay a visit to the trophy room and dressing rooms.

Gary Hill is a travel journalist from Scotland. He has spent much of his life in Spain and currently lives in an apartment in Barcelona. You can read many of his articles about vacations in Europe online or in travel magazines.

While tickets are made available to the general public just 2 weeks before a match, the way that Futbol Club Barcelona distributes them means that the seats left by this stage are among the worst in the stadium.

There are 98,000 seats in the stadium and 140,000+ members of the club, which means that club members have usually cherry picked the best seats long before they are made available for general sale.

If you’re travelling to Barcelona for a weekend when they play at home – and who wouldn’t want to ensure that? – you can make sure of getting tickets by reserving in advance from an official ticket agent for FC Barcelona. Although they are expensive they are guaranteed tickets for every match and this is likely to be your only option for matches such as Barcelona v Real Madrid.

If you wait until arriving in Barcelona you do have the option of the ticket touts. They congregate around the entrance to the ticket offices a few days before matches and there prices also tend to be high, but if you wait until match night you may find people with extra tickets wanting to sell them for face value.

If you really don’t mind what tickets you receive then you have a few options. The first is to simply go to the FC ticket office, either during the day or an hour before the match. Queues tend to be long, so do make sure you have enough time. You can also buy tickets for the club from the tourist offices locate on the Ramblas.

Your final option is to buy tickets from the cash machines of La Caixa. Not all their machines sell tickets, but if you look for the ones marked ServiCaixa you can select tickets and they’ll be printed out for you instantly. There is a small booking fee and you don’t have a good choice, but at least this option is easy.

The best advice for good seats is to book in advance. Although you pay over the odds, it is worth it for the convenience it brings.

For more information on buying Barcelona football tickets visit http://www.SimplyBarcelonaTickets.com

It’s never too early to start planning your trip to see a 2010 World Cup Soccer match! In fact, the earlier you get started, the better. The pre-sold tickets are usually gone in a heartbeat, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better your chances of getting to a game.

It’s also notoriously tough to get a seat once you’re at the game. Just think of how many people want that seat! You’ve got all the soccer fans of an entire COUNTRY vying for a spot to watch the game for real, so there’s some very stiff competition.

The first step is to take a look at the schedule and decide which match you want to see. Naturally, they’ve already set tentative dates for most of the games. Check your team’s website and see when they’re scheduled to play. These dates are subject to change, of course, but at least you can get your ticket. You can always adjust your own schedule when the time gets closer!

One thing to keep in mind is that World Cup Soccer tickets are usually non-transferable, and they’re pretty strict about seeing IDs. This means that you probably won’t be able to get rid of the seats if it turns out you can’t go.

Once you’ve decided where and when to go, you’re ready to buy. Buying directly from teams or the soccer governing organization is a bit of a challenge. You’re much better off reserving your seats online at one of the many sites that offer World Cup Tickets.

Buying tickets online can be a little sketchy, so here are some tips to make sure you’re getting the real thing and not getting ripped off.

• Look at customer comments and ratings. You can always check forums and other online communities related to World Cup Soccer and other sporting events. These sites will give you some idea of whether people have been happy with the company’s service or not.
• If they have a Better Business Bureau seal on their site, you can usually click it and get information about the company from the BBB. The BBB is your best source of information about a company, and you can always check up on them before you buy.
• Only buy from companies that offer contact information on their websites. A phone number is always best, because this way you know that you can reach them if you need to. You might even call them beforehand and ask them a few questions about the ordering process. This will verify that they aren’t just an order taking facility, but the actual company itself.
• It’s generally safest to buy tickets online using a major credit card. Credit card companies are buyer friendly, and if there is a problem, you can always reach someone and dispute the charges. With online only payment providers, the dispute process might not be so user friendly.
• A bigger company isn’t always better. Often, bigger ticket outlets run out faster than their smaller competitors. It’s always a good idea to do lots of shopping around before you buy your ticket. You’ll also find lots of variations in price.

It’s time to start getting those 2010 World Cup Soccer tickets today! If you play your cards right, you’ll be sitting right in the crowd watching your favorite team in 2010!