Soccer fans can watch the women's World Cup final, which takes place in Shanghai on September 30, for just 80 yuan ($10), according to ticketing arrangements unveiled yesterday by organizers.

The lowest price for a ticket to the quarterfinals and semifinals is 60 yuan while a group match only costs 20-30 yuan.

The highest priced ticket for the semifinals, final, opening and closing ceremonies is 500 yuan.

"A successful women's World Cup needs wide participation of soccer fans from home and abroad. So we set a price that is acceptable to most of them. We are looking forward to seeing an increasing number of fans coming to the stadium," said Xie Yalong, executive director of the organizing committee.

The tournament will see sixteen teams competing in Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan from September 10-30.

Due to the different levels of economic development in host cities, the local organizing committee chose to determine the price according to the area's consumption ability.

The ticketing hotline was also announced yesterday and anyone around the world can dial (+86) 400707999 to get information or book a ticket.

The low price is part of efforts to win back domestic fans' passion of the sport, which peaked when the national women's team won Olympic and World Cup silver medals in the late 1990's.

The team has been slumping rapidly ever since, with disappointing performances in the international field and chaotic coaching arrangements turning prospective fans off.

Last month, former Swedish national head coach Marika Domanski took the helm of the struggling squad, which had bombed at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. There are signs of a turnaround, as the team is now 100 percent from the last four matches.

China are seeded in Group D, where they must qualify past two of Brazil, Denmark and New Zealand. Officials are cranking up the pressure on the new coach and her players by setting a semifinal finish as a minimum requirement.

(China Daily May 23, 2007)