Canada faces South Africa in World Cup knockout as ticket prices plummet

Canada's men's national team will face South Africa in a World Cup knockout match Sunday in Los Angeles — a historic first for both nations in the tournament's elimination round.

Canada finished runner-up in Group B after a loss to Switzerland in the final group stage, and now must travel to Los Angeles to play South Africa, which upset Group A runners-up South Korea. Neither nation has ever reached the knockout round of a FIFA World Cup before. The winner advances to the Round of 16.

Ticket prices have plummeted on the resale market. Before South Africa's upset victory, the get-in price for the match was roughly $1,850. Since then, prices have dropped almost 60 per cent. According to TicketData.com, many Korean supporters have been offloading tickets on FIFA's resale market and third-party resellers. Greater Los Angeles is home to roughly 300,000 Koreans, with around half a million across California.

Fans can currently grab three Category 4 tickets in Section 553 on FIFA's resale market for $835 — $1,000 cheaper than the same section's price 24 hours earlier. There are almost 700 different ticket listings on third-party app SeatGeek alone, and thousands on FIFA's official resale website. With so many tickets still listed, prices could fall further.

Los Angeles Stadium is the fourth-largest venue among the tournament's 16 host stadiums, behind only Dallas, Mexico City, and New Jersey/New York — and the biggest venue Canada has played in so far. Canada had the chance to remain in Vancouver for the next two knockout stage games had they won or drawn their final group-stage match, but their 2-1 loss to Switzerland forced the travel. Canada becomes the first host nation in the tournament to play a World Cup match outside its own borders.