Acknowledging a lack of large-scale interest and ticket sales on a local level to this point for the 2010 World Cup, South African government officials are calling for more funds and a much-increased marketing effort to promote both the marquee tournament as well as the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup coming in June, according to ESPN Soccernet.
"All evidence is indicating that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), the government, host cities, we are all not doing enough to market this tournament to South Africans and so that is the challenge," said cabinet spokesman Themba Maseko, who also called out sponsors for not doing enough to promote the tournament, but indicated that “most will start advertising the World Cup on their products, such as drinks cans, over the next few weeks.”
The admission “comes amid criticism from world soccer governing body FIFA, which fears stadiums for the prestigious tournament and the scene-setting 2009 Confederations Cup would lack adequate local support,” although more than 170,000 tickets have reportedly been sold for the eight-team intercontinental championship that is set for June 14-28 that includes the U.S. national team.