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Zurich - World football's governing body FIFA admitted on Thursday that ticket prices were scaring away fans for the 2010 World Cup and asked tour operators to cut costs to help fill stadiums in South Africa.
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said the tournament was destined to be "a beautiful World Cup" but his general secretary Jerome Valcke warned that 800 000 tickets were still going begging.
High prices have put off ordinary fans from travelling to the country, Valcke said, and though some matches - England group games for example - have sold out, others have attracted little interest just 16 weeks before the tournament kick-off on June 11.
He said FIFA originally expected 500 000 visitors to South Africa during the tournament but was now revising that figure downward.
"We want ordinary fans to be able to come to South Africa," said Valcke. "We have been asking tour operators to cut prices."
High prices have also put off wealthy travellers who have shied away from expensive VIP packages.
But Valcke said he was not worried about the prospect of empty stadiums and that ticket touts could help solve the problem of an "over-rigid" ticket sales system.
"My job is to fill stadiums," he said. "I should not say this, but if the black market works, that tells you that the tournament works."
He said, however, that he did have some concern about building work on the main stadium that has yet to be completed.
Soccer City in Soweto is the centrepiece of the South African World Cup and will host the opening match and the final.
"It is the main stadium. It is a problem," he said.
"But we are on the point of completion. The date is fixed for March 15. Then we will need some time to carry out dry runs on such things as access, ticketing etc.
"But all the other stadiums are ready and the one in Durban, in particular, is one of the best stadiums ever at a World Cup."
On security, a factor which is reportedly frightening away some potential fans, the FIFA chief said that fears were exaggerated.
"Nothing is going to happen at World Cup venues," he said. "But outside the venues, it is South Africa.
"In Paris you would not wander alone around the area around the Stade de France (the national stadium) on your own after midnight. If a supporter wants to test how safe South Africa is, he will find out."
Next month FIFA headquarters will host a security meeting of police and security officials responsible for the 32 teams who have qualified for the World Cup.
