Miami-Dade County in Florida will review security protocols for the 2026 World Cup after a chaotic Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. More than two dozen fans were arrested after rushing security and attempting to force their way into the stadium without tickets, leading to a chaotic scene. This incident raises serious concerns about security measures at the future World Cup venue.
Police initiated a lockdown, leaving hundreds of fans stuck outside in sweltering heat as the match between Argentina and Colombia was repeatedly delayed. The match finally kicked off over an hour late. “Last night our law enforcement teams responded swiftly to handle an extremely challenging, dangerous situation posing life safety concerns for attendees,” said James Reyes, the chief of public safety for Miami-Dade County. “We are working with the event organizers to conduct a comprehensive review of all safety and security protocols, as we continue to prepare for the World Cup in 2026.”
There were 27 arrests and 55 ejections made. More than 800 law enforcement officers were present at the stadium, which is home to the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins and is used to welcoming massive crowds at sport’s biggest events, including the Super Bowl four years ago. A source with knowledge of the security plans told Reuters that security was more lax for the Copa final than for the 2020 NFL championship game, where fans could not get anywhere near stadium entrances without showing a pass at an outside perimeter.
Hard Rock Stadium did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its security plans but said in a prior statement that it had “more than double” the personnel on Sunday than at a typical capacity event. The stadium has a capacity of over 65,000. “We understand there are disappointed ticket holders who were not able to enter the stadium after the perimeter was closed, and we will work in partnership with CONMEBOL to address those individual concerns,” the stadium said. “Ultimately, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of all guests and staff.”
The venue is scheduled to host seven matches, including the bronze medal game, at the 2026 World Cup, which is organized by the sport’s global governing body, FIFA. CONMEBOL, FIFA and U.S. Soccer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Similar incidents have happened at several recent major soccer matches in places including London and Paris. But the incident at the Copa America final is a bitter disappointment for fans at a tournament intended to showcase inter-confederation camaraderie, with the United States hosting South America’s most important national team tournament for the second time.
The tournament has been marred by issues beyond security, including empty seats at several group matches due to high prices and far-flung stadiums. The U.S. team were unable to get out of the group stage and split with their head coach Gregg Berhalter as a result. Then, security personnel came under fire after Uruguay players clashed with Colombia fans following their Copa America semi-final defeat.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa later told reporters that his players’ family members were assaulted in the stands and ripped Copa organizers for failing to protect them. Canada coach Jesse Marsch also criticized the tournament organizers ahead of his team’s third-place clash with Uruguay, calling the event unprofessional at every level and saying that his players were treated as “second-class citizens.”
“We’ve had our players be head-butted. We’ve had racial slurs thrown at our players live and through social media,” he said. He also accused referees of bias against CONCACAF players. “There’s so many things I could say.”
