2018 World-Cup
WORLD CUP WARM-UP! Tickets for Israel/Argentina friendly in Jerusalem sells out within 20 minutes
Tickets for an Israel-Argentina friendly in Jerusalem next month with Barcelona star Lionel Messi expected in the line-up sold out within 20 minutes, the Israeli company handling sales said.
The Le’an agency said on its website that nearly 100,000 fans applied for 20,000 tickets when they went on general sale Sunday evening.
“No sporting event has ever caused such hysteria in Israel,” it wrote.
Prices ranged from 44 shekels (about $12, 10 euros) for children and soldiers to 825 shekels in the VIP area.
Another 5,000 places went to supporters of the Israeli national team in a pre-sale reserved for them and over 4,000 tickets were to be distributed to children from needy families.
The game will take place on June 9 at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem which has a capacity of 31,733 seats.
On social media networks, tickets were being resold for up to 4,500 shekels on Monday.
Argentina will play against Haiti on May 29 and then Israel just one week before their first match in the World Cup against Iceland on June 16 in Moscow.
In Group D, Messi’s men will face Croatia on June 21 and Nigeria on June 26.
Israel finished fourth in Group 7 in qualifying for the World Cup, behind Spain, Italy and Albania.
They last qualified in 1970.
In the past, Argentina have played Israel several times in friendly matches, usually before the World Cup, suffering a 1-2 defeat in 1998 but crushing the Israelis 7-2 in 1990 with Maradona at the helm.
The June 9 game will start after dark so that observant Jews can reach the stadium or watch it on TV without violating their Sabbath, which runs from dusk on Friday to sunset Saturday.
During the weekly day of rest the Jewish faith forbids travelling by motorised transport and the use of electricity.
-
News22 hours ago
FCCPC shuts popular Abuja supermarket over price irregularities
-
News22 hours ago
Police reportedly arrest two Fubara loyalists in Abuja
-
News9 hours ago
Enugu govt plans befitting burial for Mr Ibu, Junior Pope
-
News22 hours ago
Kenya military helicopter crash kills defence chief, senior officers
-
News9 hours ago
Kano police arrest suspects for disrupting inauguration of new commissioners
-
News13 hours ago
NSA laments booming illegal firearms market in North
-
News12 hours ago
Why Bobrisky is not in Kirikiri prison – NCoS official
-
Politics12 hours ago
FG places ex-Kogi gov. Yahaya Bello on watchlist