More than half of the total tickets available for this year's FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil have been sold, according to world football's governing body FIFA.

The second phase of sales for the June 15-30 event began on Thursday, with 399,525 tickets already purchased from fans in 138 countries and regions.

The figure, which includes 209,692 seats allocated via lottery, accounts for 52 percent of the event's overall tickets.

Brazil tops the list of successful applicants, accounting for 98 percent of tickets distributed, followed by the United States, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Germany, Italy and England.

"It shows that Brazilians value the kind of great football that will be showcased by the eight champions in June at the first six completed FIFA World Cup arenas," FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil said in a statement.

Brazil's opening match against Japan in Brasilia on June 15 has already been sold out, as has the host nation's clash against Italy in Salvador on June 22.

The remaining 291,000 tickets still available for the tournament are expected to be in high demand, according to Weil.

The Confederations Cup is considered an organizational warm-up for the FIFA World Cup a year later.

It includes FIFA's six continental champions, host nation Brazil and European runners-up Italy, by virtue of European champions Spain's qualification as the defending World Cup holder.

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