The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed for more than an hour on Sunday after fans broke through gates, compromising security at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Security personnel detained several fans, and officials initially pushed back the 8 p.m. kickoff time by 45 minutes to give ticketed fans time to get to their seats. As fans slowly entered the stadium and players took to the field for warmups, the kickoff time was pushed back again to 9:15 p.m.
“In anticipation of tonight’s Copa America final, thousands of fans attempted to enter the stadium without tickets, putting other fans, security and law enforcement at extreme risk,” a stadium spokesperson said in a statement on X. “Security has closed the gates to make the entry process much slower and ensure everyone remains safe.”
The problem started when fans rushed to the gates when they opened at 5pm, three hours before kick-off. Several were caught by police. The authorities then decided to close the gates and let a trickle of fans through. But the jam got worse.
Fans crowded outside the stadium, waiting for security to reopen the entrances. Several fans were reportedly treated for heat exhaustion as they waited in the extreme humidity. Officials urged all fans without tickets to leave the area to speed up the entry process.
At 8:15 PM the stadium gates opened again and fans streamed into the stadium in a somewhat orderly manner.
Pablo Ruiz, 49, from Argentina, said he flew in with friends especially for the match. He waited 90 minutes to get through the gates while his friends were still stuck outside.
“(Security) treated us like animals, like cows. It was bad. I tell you: the US is not ready to host the World Cup (in 2026),” Ruiz said.
The commotion is the latest example of organizational problems at the Copa América, which is organized by the South American governing body CONMEBOL. After Wednesday’s semifinal, in which Colombia defeated Uruguay, Uruguayan players climbed into the stands to exchange blows with Colombian fans who they said were threatening the players’ families.
