Tickets to FIFA World Cup games in Toronto, Vancouver popular despite hefty price tag

Tickets to next summer's FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver and Toronto continue to be a hot commodity, despite eye-popping resale prices.

Soccer's international governing body announced last week more than two million tickets have been sold for the tournament's 104 games, to be played across Canada, the United States and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.

Tickets for the seven games in Vancouver and six in Toronto have sold out almost as quickly as they've been released, even though teams for the matchups won't be announced until after Friday's final draw.

How much of the ticket inventory has been sold has not been released because organizers are still working their way through ticket requests from participating federations, said Peter Montopoli, Canada's chief tournament officer.

"What I feel safe in saying is based on the tickets that were put together for the Visa pre-sale and the early ticket draw, we've sold 100 per cent of those tickets. So, whatever was available has been sold."

How many tickets are available next will depend on what tickets participating member associations like Canada Soccer get, he added.

So far, so good, however.

Montopoli, former general secretary of Canada Soccer, said he was "thrilled" at the appetite for tickets.

Montopoli should know. He said his name wasn't drawn for either of the two draws to date, even though the second draw was weighted for would-be buyers in the co-host countries, something Canada led the push for.

Others in his office also struck out.

"And we know people," Montopoli said with a laugh.

FIFA said fans from 212 countries and territories have bought tickets so far, with fans from the U.S. snapping up the most, followed by Canada, then Mexico. They've also