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The final Copa America soccer tournament match between Argentina and Colombia was delayed for more than an hour as officials in Miami struggled to control crowds trying to enter the stadium without tickets.
Pictures and videos posted on social media Sunday night showed people in soccer jerseys climbing up through air vents onto the pitch, and huge crowds pushing through entrance gates, causing panic and confusion as the gates suddenly opened.
Hard Rock Stadium said in a statement to X that “thousands of ticketless fans attempted to force their way in.”
The players took to the pitch after a delay of about an hour and 20 minutes. Argentina won 1-0 to win their second consecutive Copa America trophy, but star player Lionel Messi was forced off the pitch after suffering an injury in the second half.
The tragedy at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night is likely to raise questions about the city’s readiness to host a World Cup game in two years. Miami is one of 16 host cities across North America for the 2026 event.
Miami-Dade police said there were “multiple incidents” before the stadium doors opened, which they said were due to “unruly behavior” from fans.
“We are actively working with Hard Rock Stadium to ensure a safe environment for all attendees,” the department wrote to X.
The 65,000-seat stadium is home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and regularly hosts major events, including Formula One races and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
The city of Miami has become a popular destination for global sports, especially soccer, and that reached its peak when Messi joined the local Major League Soccer team.
“The final week of the Copa America has been marred by some truly disturbing images that speak to deep and fundamental problems with the organization of the tournament,” Men in Blazers, an American media company dedicated to promoting football, wrote in a post on X.
Sunday’s chaos followed the disastrous scenes that followed last week’s semifinal between Uruguay and Colombia in Charlotte, North Carolina, when Uruguayan players stormed the stands and started fighting with Colombian supporters.
The tournament’s organizers, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), said in a statement that they were investigating the incident.
“No matter the outcome of the brawl — suspensions, arrests, lawsuits — it’s clear that the post-game brawl has taken a toll on Charlotte,” the Charlotte Observer wrote in an editorial.
