Problems Push World Cup Ticket Prices up

The effects of the current economic situation in Germany are threatening to stretch as far ahead as the 2006 World Cup with the hosts preparing to ask world soccer body FIFA to raise ticket prices for the championships amid economic difficulties and the search for new backers. The original price for tickets had been touted as around €25 per game, but the German 2006 World Cup organizing committee is to consult FIFA about making the cheapest ticket €33. “We have to keep ourselves in profit,” vowed organizing committee vice president Horst R. Schmidt. Germany is still searching for sponsors to fill two vacant spots with organizing chief Franz Beckenbauer admitting: “We are finding it very difficult at the moment.”