- The Copa América final was played on Sunday night in Miami, but pre-match security issues were the biggest story.
- Kickoff was delayed by 75 minutes as fans stormed the gates, and even tried to get through the venting systems.
- The United States is co-hosting the World Cup in 2026 with Canada and Mexico, and there will be a major conversation around security heading into that tournament.
The Copa América final was held Sunday night in Miami, Florida. Argentina played Colombia, and the World Cup champions would have to go to extra time against their opponents. However, a Lautaro Martinez goal in the 112th minute would give Argentina their record 16th Copa América title.
However, that wasn’t the biggest story of the night. The kickoff for the game was delayed for over 80 minutes as fans rushed the security gates to get into Hard Rock Stadium.
There will be some tough questions asked about security in the United States as the country prepares to co-host the World Cup in 2026 with Canada and Mexico.
Thousands Rush Gates, Some Try to Get Through Vents
The game was due to kick off at 8:00 PM ET. But thousands of fans rushed the security gates, leading the stadium to enter lockdown. This ESPN report reveals that a statement was released by Hard Rock Stadium:
“In anticipation of tonight’s Copa América Final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk. Security has shut the gates in order to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe.
As a result, tonight’s match start time has been delayed until further notice to accommodate for ticketed fans to be able to safely enter the stadium.”
There were even videos posted of people trying to enter the stadium through the air vents:
The ESPN report also stated that Argentina midfield Alexis Mac Allister had to leave the dressing room to ensure his mother’s safety. There were also reports of fights as people were crammed into small spaces together.
It was yet another blemish on the security for the Copa América tournament. Following Colombia’s win over Uruguay in the semifinals in Charlotte, North Carolina, there were fan clashes in the stands.
Uruguay forward Darwin Núñez can be seen heading into the stands, where Uruguayan family members were. CONMEBOL, the federation in charge of the Copa América, say that there is an investigation going on.
There were also issues with the state of the pitches, both for games and training. Uruguayan manager Marcelo Bielsa, among other managers, has blasted the tournament organization.
Another Instance of Poor Security At Soccer Games
Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. At the Euro 2020 final (which took place in 2021 due to the global pandemic) at Wembley Stadium, the same thing happened ahead of England’s game with Italy.
Even at this year’s tournament, Euro 2024, there have been numerous instances of people running onto the pitch, trying to get selfies with players. A man jumped off a ledge, trying to get a picture with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Attention shouldn’t be taken away from Argentina, the favorites who the tournament. However, the United States has a major problem on their hands ahead of the World Cup in 2026.
The World Cup is, in every respect, a much larger tournament than the Copa América. If they can’t handle this crowd, they’re going to be in trouble in two years. Beefing up their security measures should be the United States’ (along with Canada and Mexico) top priority at the World Cup.
