📍 Miami, FL — April 17, 2025
A Miami-Dade County after-action report has cited major security failures as the primary cause of the chaos that erupted ahead of the 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium.
Key Findings from the Report
The report, dated December 13, 2024, and obtained by ESPN, identified several key factors that led to the disruption:
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Lack of intelligence gathering: Authorities missed early warning signs, including reports from Texas law enforcement about crowd control issues at a prior Copa América match.
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Insufficient security perimeters: Despite deploying more than 900 law enforcement personnel, security measures were overwhelmed by an unexpected surge.
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Unticketed fan coordination: An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 unticketed fans parked off-site and stormed entry gates. Officials admitted they were unaware of the coordinated plan.
“Had this information been known, our plan would have been modified for this contingency,” the report stated.
Incident Details
On match day, thousands of fans jumped barriers and forced their way past officers, creating serious safety risks for attendees, players, and referees. The match was delayed, with:
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54 people ejected
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26 people arrested
The report emphasized the urgent need for improved social media monitoring to detect and respond to such movements in real time.
Recommendations Moving Forward
Following the review, Miami-Dade officials proposed several measures:
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Expanded security perimeters: Hard Rock Stadium is being urged to increase pedestrian and vehicle screenings.
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Transition to full electronic ticketing: Rampant use of photo tickets was cited as a vulnerability, prompting a call for stricter entry protocols.
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Enhanced inter-agency coordination: Future major events will require better collaboration between local, state, and event organizers.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who demanded the full review, has called for immediate reforms to prevent future incidents.
Stadium and Organizational Response
Hard Rock Stadium officials stated they had not yet reviewed the report and declined immediate comment. Neither CONMEBOL nor the Miami-Dade Police Department responded to requests for comment.
Hard Rock Stadium is scheduled to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making the lessons from the Copa América final particularly urgent for future preparations.
