The tickets are returns from the first sales phase resulting from non-payment or failure to comply with the sales regulations.

The 2006 OC had been expecting a higher number of returns. "But a significant number of applications did end up paying after receiving a written reminder. The new draw only included applicants who received no tickets at all in the first two sales phases.

We're delighted that a few more people will now receive tickets for the World Cup," commented OC senior vice-president Horst R. Schmidt.

In a repeat of the procedure used for the first sales phase, the new ballot took place at OC premises in Frankfurt and was supervised by a lottery official from the state of Hesse.

The ballot software has been certified as guaranteeing an equal chance of success to all applicants. The latest winners will be notified by 26 August 2005 and asked to confirm receipt of the notification in writing within 14 days.

812,000 FIFA World Cup match tickets were made available for sale in the first two sales phases, including 147,000 TST or team-specific series. TST returns will be offered for sale through www.FIFAworldcup.com at a later date.

A further 300,000 tickets go on sale in the third sales phase beginning in December 2005. As in the first phase, applicants are under no time pressure as the order in which applications are received has no bearing on the likelihood of getting tickets.

The OC is assuming demand will again outstrip supply, and will allocate tickets by ballot on a match-by-match basis.

Source: FIFA