Unfortunately, the 2024 Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia in Miami was headlined by poor organization and chaotic fan scenes at Hard Rock Stadium.

It was a very hot and humid day in Miami, where a spectacular Copa America final was set to be played in an immense atmosphere. However, the chaos that caused the game to be delayed nearly an hour and a half overshadowed everything.

The final was set to kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time, but did not get underway until 9:22 p.m. local time due to fans without tickets to the game causing a riot outside of the gates. Several of these fans had clear intent to try and get into the stadium and several did so at all costs, scaling fences, walls and even getting into the air conditioning vents.

This caused a panic near the gates, where fans rushed into the stadium with or without tickets, eventually injuring people. Given all of the factors, including the intense humidity, this was a major security concern on a night that was meant to be historic for the on-field display.

People are finally being cleared out by authorities at Hard Rock Stadium.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/LDcQ9IHv2r

— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) July 15, 2024

Unfortunately, security was unable to contain the massive number of people rushing through the gates, which caused the gates to be closed. Several people who paid thousands of dollars to attend this match were left outside, while someone who may have potentially entered Hard Rock Stadium without a ticket was sitting in their seat.

There was clearly confusion and panic around the stadium with the stragglers wandering around the stadium even sitting in aisles. This was obviously a major fire hazard with the overflow of spectators, but the local Miami Police department deployed into each section to try and stop this dangerous situation from scaling.

Several fans even wandered into the observers’ press area, which is restricted to all fans. Hard Rock Stadium and Copa America staff did their best to keep these fans out of this area before Miami Police had to step in to clear the aisles near this section.

Some fans wandering around were ticketed guests who were not allowed in their section or found others sitting in their seats when they arrived at their section. Some Hard Rock Stadium staff were able to help these guests, but several fans were not so lucky.

A reported 28 arrests were made last night at Hard Rock Stadium, but this number is a small fraction of the people who rushed into the stadium without a ticket.

Hard Rock Stadium put out an official bulletin stating that they had worked with both CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, along with local authorities, before this match. Players, managers, and media members have made several complaints about CONMEBOL’s organization in this Copa America.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, several people are now questioning whether the United States is ready to host an event of this magnitude. However, with all of these complaints, several questions need to be asked about CONMEBOL’s management and organization, much before the disastrous night in Miami.

The atmosphere was an absolute spectacle worthy of a Copa America final, the game was a great and intense one, but the main talking point after everything is the absolute madness that let loose at Hard Rock Stadium.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.