FIFA will hand out free tickets to soccer fans in South Africa in a bid to avoid Confederations Cup matches being played at empty stadiums.

"There will be a number of complimentary tickets actually handed to institutions, institutions which have been very supportive of the event," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said Wednesday.

"It's a gesture from FIFA. It's a joint initiative from FIFA and the organizing committee to basically offer to those who maybe didn't have a chance to attend the games so far to go there."

Maingot said schools and local authorities will be among those receiving the tickets, but he did not say how many would be handed out.

"In terms of numbers, I cannot give details," Maingot said. "It very much depends on a game-by-game basis."

So far, none of the four matches at the Confederations Cup have sold out, including the opening match between host nation South Africa and Iraq at Johannesburg's Ellis Park.

The cheapest ticket for a group match in the Cup is currently 70 rands (US$8.7) - over half a laborer's average daily earnings.

There are eight games remaining in the group stage of the eight-team tournament, which is being used as a warm-up for next year's World Cup. Following that, there are two semifinal matches, a consolation game and the final.

Maingot said that, so far, the free tickets were only for group matches.

"We are only targeting at the next coming games," he said. "We are thinking group stage at first."

Host South Africa plays its second match Wednesday against New Zealand in Rustenburg. European champion Spain faces Iraq in Bloemfontein.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2009)