Johannesburg - “The time is near”. That was the declaration from Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke at a packed Fifa Confederations Cup draw press conference at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday.

“The preparation time is close to being over now. We are entering the implementation and delivery of the event. We have been working with the government, as we have been doing so with the past and this one and the next one,” the Fifa official said.

“It is still a test event which will give us a chance to check not only the structures, but all people from all sides, including people from Fifa.

“It is going to be a very important next six months from now until the event. There are no more questions now whether it (the World Cup that is) will happen or not. One team is sure (South Africa as hosts) while another is not (Iraq). The other six are still in the qualifying race, which is important why they should come here and feel what South Africa is like.”

Valcke also confirmed tickets – ranging from R1 400 for the final to the cheapest at R70 for the group games - will be available online and paper applications will also be available at all FNB branches from November 23.

Earlier 2010 Local Organising Committee Chairperson Irvin Khoza had told the media gathering: “It’s been an hour we have been waiting for and – and the hour has come.

“For us it’s not just a dress rehearsal, we are saying it’s a tournament of Fifa and we will provide the experience. We are happy with the issue of tickets for they will be available to our people.”

But whether all the 850 000 tickets set aside for this two-week soccer spectacular featuring three world giants – Brazil, Italy and Spain – plus five middle-of-the-road teams and unknowns will all be snapped up come next winter, is something that is still leaving the LOC scratching their heads.

“One of our challenges is that we must fill the stadiums,” said LOC CEO Danny Jordaan when asked if officialdom was not concerned with the inevitable apathy associated with low profile matches that the likes of Iraq and New Zealand will engender among the local masses.

“Every single match must be full because we are the hosts and we must embrace all the teams. There is a misconception that this country is a rugby country – it’s a huge challenge and we have already engaged some of firms. You must also help us.”

As host country South Africa country will play in the opening match at Ellis Park on June 14 next year.