ABU DHABI // Barcelona, champions of Spain and Europe and one of the world's most glamorous football teams, will be able to be watched in the capital in December for as little as Dh15. That is the lowest of four different ticket prices at the Zayed Sports City Stadium for the second semi-final of the Club World Cup when the Spanish giants take on any of four champion teams from four continents, among them Al Ahli of Dubai.
Tickets for the competition, won last year by Manchester United, went on sale yesterday - 100 days before the tournament opens on December 9 with Al Ahli taking on Auckland City, champions of the Oceania region. Barcelona and the Argentine club Estudiantes de la Plata, winners of the South American (Conmebol) championship, are exempt until the semi-finals and are favourites to contest the final on December 19, when admission prices range from Dhs30 to Dhs 300.
Estudiantes begin their campaign a day earlier than Barca on December 15 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, home of Al Jazira, against opposition still to be determined. The cheapest ticket for that match is, remarkably, Dh10, rising to Dh160. It has not yet been confirmed how many tickets will be issued in each of the four categories. Mohammed al Mahmood, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Sports Council who presented the successful bid to Fifa to stage the Club World Cup for the next two years, believes demand will be high, even for the less attractive games, and is urging spectators to buy their tickets early.
He and other officials at yesterday's launch of ticket sales, drew attention to the special family rate which can enable two adults and up to four children to watch matches for a total of Dh20, rising to Dh60 for the final. There will also be a special section for female supporters. "I am 100 per cent confident that we will attract big crowds for all of the matches," said Mahmoud. "I feel sure that the event will be a major success."
Al Mahmood also expressed confidence that the tournament will be trouble-free. "The reputation of this country is such that we are not regarding security as an issue," he said. There will be fan zones near to both grounds to add to the entertainment of visiting spectators but al Mahmood indicated that there would be no alcohol on sale in those areas. "We are providing other ways for them to enjoy themselves," he said.
Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi, president of the Football Association, spoke of "a unique opportunity for the people here to be part of an historic international event". "Some of the biggest names in football will be playing right here in our backyard for the very first time," he said. Abdullatif al Sayegh, a director of Al Ahli, hopes expatriates will support his club during the tournament. "We are representing the UAE primarily and Al Ahli secondary," he said.
wjohnson@thenational.ae
