FIFA allocates 5,000 additional tickets for Morocco vs. Spain WC match after sellout

FIFA has allocated 5,000 additional tickets for Moroccan fans wishing to attend Spain vs Morocco World Cup match after a 'frustrating' sellout.

"After great efforts made by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the international federation of football has allocated 5,000 tickets for the match that will bring together the national team and its Spanish counterpart to Moroccan fans," Morocco's national team's official Twitter account said Sunday.

The tickets are available to buy on the FIFA ticketing system.

The news came after a growing frustration from Moroccan fans, who collectively denounced the selling out of tickets for Tuesday's Morocco vs Spain match in a short time.

"All tickets are sold out. Some non-Moroccan fans are reselling each ticket for US$900. This is unfair," Samir, a Moroccan fan who travelled to Qatar to cheer for the Atlas Lions, told The New Arab.

🚨بعد مجهودات كبيرة قامت بها الجامعة الملكية المغربية لكرة القدم ، فإن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم خصص 5000 تذكرة الخاصة بالمباراة التي ستجمع بين المنتخب الوطني ونظيره الاسباني، للجماهير المغربية ووضعها في موقعه الرسمي الخاص ببيع التذاكر . pic.twitter.com/e21SuzvAqI

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) December 4, 2022

Local media shared similar statements urging the Moroccan federation of football to intervene.

Despite the additional tickets, Moroccan fans fear that the ticket shortage will leave the Education City stadium void of the ambience of 'Atlas Lions' fans' chants and cheers, which played a pivotal role in boosting the spirit of their national team in the previous matches.

At 45,350 seats, the Education City Stadium, one of two grounds in Al Rayyan, is one of the smaller stadiums in the World Cup and will be further reduced post-tournament to a 25,000-seat capacity.

Meanwhile, Morocco's national carrier Royal Air Maroc has announced a special flight program for fans wishing to travel to Qatar so that they can attend the match.

Royal Air Maroc also allowed fans who attended the previous games to reschedule their departure flights to another date to prolong their stay and see Morocco vs Spain match.

The rescheduling process will be free of charge, according to the company.

Morocco and Spain's match is scheduled for Tuesday, 6 December at 15:00 GMT.

This is the first time Morocco's "Atlas Lions" have qualified for the round of 16 since 1986. 

Morocco's qualification swept the region in ecstasy, as hopes amounted to seeing an Arab Amazigh country playing the final of the biggest sporting event in an Arab land.