A commercial running on Japanese TV at the moment shows an astronaut being told to go on a space trip by his boss. He complains, saying that he has tickets for some World Cup games. But his boss insists he has to go. The astronaut reluctantly goes leaving his tickets on the floor. The boss picks them up and grins.

Now, here's the question. Can the boss use these tickets to attend the games? (The answer comes later in this column.)

On Friday, the third round of sales of World Cup tickets for residents in Japan started and, over the first six hours, some 20,000 people registered for tickets.

The Japanese World Cup Organizing Committee has changed the procedures for booking tickets this time, making it far more simpler than the second-round sales, after it received a number of complaints, both from the public and even FIFA, for the extremely complicated system used for the second-round sales.

But still, those who want to purchase tickets have to clear certain hurdles.

They have to get through the pre-registration on the telephone by April 7 and then hope they qualify for the next stage just to apply for tickets. If successful, they then go into a draw to see if they can actually purchase the tickets.

From the onset there have been numerous complaints from the public regarding the tickets.

The name-written-on-ticket sales system has, in particular, angered people. The system requires you to give not just your own name but also the names of the people accompanying you to the game.

On top of that, once you have purchased a ticket, you are basically not allowed to re-sell it or give it to someone else. The only way you can change the name is by applying to FIFA, but even then the reasons are restricted to excuses such as illness, injury, death, pregnancy, etc. (So the answer to the astronaut story is "No.")

How could they make such a complicated system for what is supposed to be the most enjoyable soccer competition in the world?

The name-written purchase system was first introduced at EURO 2000 by UEFA as a result of disastrous ticket problems caused by the black market at the 1998 France World Cup.

The new system is expected to prevent similar trouble and also help segregate the fans.

FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said, "Everybody constantly demands a better ticketing system, and a perfect ticketing system does not exist. No matter what you do, some tickets are going to finish up on the black market where they shouldn't be. What you can do is try to make the system as secure as possible. We are trying to protect the fans interests."

Even after successfully getting a ticket, fans still face further problems traveling to and from the stadium.

Security wise, JAWOC has announced that at all 10 venues in Japan there will be bag and body checks at three different points between the entrance of the stadium and the gate for the stands.

The local organizers in Osaka tested their security operation at Thursday's Japan-Ukraine friendly, which drew some 45,000 people. The JAWOC Osaka bureau employed 550 security guards and 530 volunteers while the Osaka Prefectural Police reportedly sent 1,100 policemen to the area surrounding Nagai Stadium, which will feature three World Cup games -- England vs. Nigeria on June 12, Japan vs. Tunisia on June 14 and a quarterfinal on June 22.

Fans coming to the game were requested to use a particular station according to their seat location. But some fans arrived at the wrong station and the late arrival of many reserved-seat holders lead to congestion in and around the stadium with the result that many people were still trying to find their seat during the first 15-20 minutes of the game.

After the game, the roads to the nearest subway station were at a standstill and it reportedly took two hours to get to the platform.

Despite this, JAWOC Osaka bureau deputy chief Masashi Ikeda praised the rehearsal, saying "We are content with our operation security-wise."

But it could have been even smoother had the local organizers publicized the access points to the stadium, warned people of the security checks and encouraged fans to arrive at the stadium well before kickoff time with as few bags as possible.

At the World Cup the organizers could hold some pre-match entertainment in the stadium for the early arrivals and hand out maps indicating alternative stations around the stadium to ease the congestion on the way home.

The World Cup is the ultimate soccer tournament where the best teams compete for the honor of being crowned world champion. It is supposed to be the most enjoyable soccer contest in the world.

But with security a priority, true soccer fans are going to suffer. It's frustrating.

The organizers need to do whatever they can to ensure the event runs smoothly both on and off the field. They only have two months left to make sure all their preparations are in place.