The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was marred by chaotic and dangerous scenes as thousands of fans were prevented from entering the Hard Rock Stadium, leading to a delayed kickoff by over an hour.
Despite the chaos, Argentina emerged victorious, defeating Colombia 1-0 in extra time to defend their title, albeit without their star player Lionel Messi, who was forced off with an injury.
The match finally commenced at 9:22 pm ET, 82 minutes after its scheduled start, amidst scenes of chaos and disorder outside the stadium. Fans, including young children, were left stranded outside in the sweltering heat, with many blaming organizers CONMEBOL for the disorganization.
“It’s a disaster,” one fan lamented. “They won’t even give water. Not even water!” Miami-Dade Police Department reported “several incidents” before the gates opened, and several fans were ejected from the stadium throughout the game.
Despite the tumultuous circumstances, Argentina’s victory marked a successful defense of their Copa America crown, a testament to their team’s resilience and determination.
