Prices reduced for 1998 World Cup finals

Spectators will pay less to watch the 1998 World Cup finals in France, compared to the United States in 1994.

The cheapest ticket for a first-round game will cost Fr145 (pounds 19) while half will be priced at Fr250 (pounds 33) or less. A seat at the final will cost from pounds 46 to pounds 393. In the United States, the lowest-priced ticket for the final was pounds 133.

Tickets for the 55 round-robin games will go on general sale on 27 November, while the 500,000 tickets for the opening game and ceremonies as well as the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final go on sale next autumn.

This year's European Championship finals were financially the most successful ever staged, Uefa said yesterday after closing its books on Euro 96 with a record pounds 56m profit. The increase was attributed to above average income from ticket sales, television and sponsorship. All 51 member associations will share in the financial windfall, with England collecting pounds 3.75m as losing semi-finalists.