World Cup tickets for Brazil deposited in German bank

FRANKFURT, Apr 26 (Reuters) A travel agent has deposited 12,000 World Cup tickets for Brazil matches in a vault in a German bank for safe keeping until their owners arrive for the tournament that starts on June 9.

The coveted tickets, which were transported in an armoured car to Cologne, will be kept in the vault of Sparkasse savings bank. They belong to fans who booked their World Cup travel and tickets through a Brazilian tour operator.

The fans, who will be based in Cologne, will receive their tickets upon arrival in Germany, Cologne's Tourist Board said today.

Defending champions Brazil expect to have more than 5,000 fans based near them in their campaign to win a sixth title.

Even Brazil training sessions are a hot ticket. More than 45,000 tickets to watch Brazil train in Switzerland before the World Cup quickly sold out within hours on Tuesday.

REUTERS PM PM1546