Football News
Questions raised about World Cup venues in US after Copa America chaos
Fan chaos which delayed Argentina’s Copa America final triumph in Florida has sparked concerns about the readiness of US venues for 2026 World Cup.
Worries have also been raised over the quality of pitches at this summer’s tournament, with many of the same venues set to be used again across the country in two years’ time.
On Sunday, Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Colombia was delayed by more than an hour after thousands of fans without tickets rushed security and tried to force their way into the Hard Rock Stadium.
Video posted on social media showed supporters jumping over security railings. Footage also showed supporters climbing through what appeared to be the stadium ventilation system.
Alexi Lalas, one of the faces of the 1994 World Cup for the US, said the scenes on Sunday were “not a good look” for his country. “I understand this is not a good look for CONMEBOL,” the former international defender told Fox Sports. “It is also because it is happening on our watch, in our country – it’s not a good look for the US less than two years out of the World Cup.”
However, in response to fans questioning the stadiums’ readiness for the World Cup, he added: “I have no doubt that Fifa and the United States and Canada and Mexico will sort this out and make sure this doesn’t happen going forward.”
Video circulating on social media showed security scuffling with fans as they ran across the concourses and attempted to breach the gates of the stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Police managed to close the gates and initiate a lockdown, leading to scores of people stuck outside trying to enter before the match kicked off. Both teams were taken off the field as the chaos brewed outside.
Posts on social media said some fans in the midst of it had fainted and others described people receiving treatment from medics. The families of several Argentina players said they had been caught up in the mayhem.
“He was worried and called us all the time to see how we were doing, and told us he was going to stay at the gate until we could get in,” midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s mother told TyC Sports.
Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho’s brother, Roberto Garnacho, posted on X: “What a shame CONMEBOL, the families not being able to enter the stadium, unbelievable.
“We were with [Argentina defender Marcos Acuna’s] family, outside, getting away from the fights… Argentina’s security had to come get us, children of players crying, people entering without tickets, it really is a shame,” he added.
Some fans said they had paid thousands of dollars for tickets and were unable to enter the stadium.
Fans were quoted by various news agencies saying they hoped that organisers of the 2026 World Cup, being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, would take steps to prevent a repeat of the chaos.
“It’s a total mess, they opened them and at least 500 people snuck in. We paid about $10,000 for five tickets and we’re still outside and they won’t open the gate,” one told Reuters.
CONMEBOL said they had tightened security following the semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia, when Uruguayan players clashed with Colombian fans after the match ended.
They also confirmed that Shakira’s half-time show in the final would last 20 minutes. Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo had said he disagreed with the extended half-time break beyond the usual 15 minutes because it could affect players’ fitness.
The Miami-Dade County mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, and the chief public safety officer, James Reyes, released a statement during the game saying that the county assigned more than 550 police officers to the stadium detail, plus other personnel from neighbouring departments.
“Let’s be clear: this situation should have never taken place and cannot happen again,” the statement read.