Copa America Final Delayed Amid Stadium Entry Chaos

The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed over an hour due to fans without tickets forcing their way into the stadium. Security struggled to control the situation, leading to a lockdown. The kickoff was postponed multiple times, and the incident raised concerns for future events like the 2026 World Cup.

The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was delayed by over an hour on Sunday after thousands of fans without tickets breached security and attempted to force their way into the stadium, according to event organizers.

Video footage circulating on social media showed security personnel in scuffles with fans running across the concourses and attempting to breach the gates of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Police managed to close the gates and initiate a lockdown, causing scores of people to be stranded outside as they tried to enter before the match commenced. Players were taken off the field as the situation unfolded outside.

A Reuters witness reported seeing several individuals ejected from the stadium by security staff. Some players mentioned that their families were caught in the chaos and were unable to enter the venue, which is slated to host matches in the 2026 World Cup. The South American football governing body CONMEBOL delayed the start time thrice from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., to 8:45 p.m., and finally to 9:15 p.m, when the teams eventually lined up for the national anthems and the match kicked off.

"In anticipation of tonight's Copa America final, thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security, and law enforcement officers at extreme risk," said a Hard Rock Stadium spokesperson. "Security has shut the gates to control the entry process at a much slower rate and ensure everyone is kept safe."

Miami-Dade police confirmed several incidents before the gates opened. "These incidents stem from the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium," they said on social media. "We urge everyone to be patient and abide by the rules established by our officers and Hard Rock Stadium personnel."

ESPN reported that for at least one gate, fans with tickets were allowed to enter one at a time. Posts on social media indicated that some fans fainted amidst the chaos, and several received medical treatment. Families of some Argentina players encountered the mayhem, with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister's mother expressing concern about their ordeal.

Roberto Garnacho, brother of Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, vented his frustration on social media: "What a shame, CONMEBOL. Families couldn't enter the stadium, unbelievable. Argentina's security had to come get us; children were crying, and people without tickets entered. It's really a shame."

Some fans claimed they spent thousands of dollars on tickets but still couldn't enter the stadium. "They opened the gates and let people in without tickets, with no way of checking if they had weapons or anything else on them," one fan told Reuters.

Another fan expressed hope that organizers of the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, would prevent such chaos from recurring. CONMEBOL stated that they had enhanced security following the semi-final match between Uruguay and Colombia, which saw conflicts between players and fans.

They also confirmed that Shakira's half-time show would last 20 minutes. Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo had expressed concerns that the extended break would affect players' fitness.

(With inputs from agencies.)