Copa America Final Delayed as Viral Videos Show Fans Rushing Entrance Gates

 

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The start to Sunday’s Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was delayed after “thousands” of fans attempted to force their way in through closed entry gates, the venue announced Sunday.

Video posted on social media showed hundreds of fans packed outside the fences and struggling to enter the stadium.

It was not immediately clear how many fans held tickets for the match. CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, issued a statement urging attendees not to enter the stadium without tickets.

The Miami-Dade Police also issued a statement urging fans to remain “patient.”

FOX’s Jenny Taft said that some players were unable to get their families into the arena amid the chaos.

Taft noted that dehydration among waiting fans was a concern for arena security as temperatures remained over 85 degrees after sunset.

The kickoff, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, was rescheduled multiple times as players left the field in the middle of warmups. The players returned around 8:40 p.m. ahead of the new kickoff time of 9:15 pm ET.

Sunday’s crowd issue, which come just days after Colombia’s 1-0 semifinal win over Uruguay ended in a brawl that involved both players and fans at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, raises concerns for the United States as hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

American and FIFA officials may decide to review venue safety policies before international soccer returns to Hard Rock Stadium in two years.