JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 300,000 online ticket applications for the 2010 FIFA World Cup were received within 48 hours of the opening of ticket sales, the Cup's Organizing Committee said on Monday.

    "This is a very happy moment..." said the committee's chief executive Dr. Danny Jordaan at Durban's Moses Mabhida Visitors' Center.

    This figure excludes thousands of other applications being processed through First National Bank branches countrywide.

    "The fervor is already palpable within South Africa and all around the world... everyone wants to take part in this extraordinary event," said Jordaan.

    Tickets went on sale on Friday.

    Fans have until midnight on March 31, 2009 to make ticket applications on the www.fifa.com website. In addition, South African residents have the opportunity to file a hard paper application in one of the 700 FNB branches across the country.

    This is the first phase of ticket sales and all applicants who register correctly by the end of this sales period will have an equal opportunity to get tickets, as a random draw will take place on April 15 to determine which applicants receive tickets for oversubscribed matches.

    The 2010 FIFA World Cup is scheduled for June next year.