FIFA has sold 90 per cent of the nearly three million tickets available for the World Cup, which starts in South Africa in 30 days, organisers said yesterday.

"All tickets will be sold out. I am quite confident about that," said Danny Jordaan, chief of the organising committee.

"About 300,000 tickets were sold in the last few weeks alone."

The majority of the tickets had been snatched up by South Africans, followed by Americans and British.

South Africa was allocated discounted tickets, in a bid to allow ordinary people to watch the tournament, which is being played in Africa for the first time.

Last month, FIFA opened over-the-counter ticket sales, following complaints that the previous Internet sales system was too difficult to access in a country with relatively little online access.

Meanwhile, South Africa's flagship World Cup stadium, Soccer City, will next week host its first professional match, ahead of the tournament's opening game on June 11.

"The much anticipated local cup final, the Nedbank Cup, will take place at Soccer City on May 22," said Rich Mkhondo, spokesman for the local organising committee.

The giant, clay-coloured stadium, inspired by the African calabash (gourd), is located between downtown Johannesburg and Soweto township.

It was built at the site of the former FNB Stadium, which was demolished to make way for the new 94,700-seat venue.