Miami’s Soccer Chaos Was a Clash of Civilizations

Two hours into my attempts to enter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the much-awaited Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, it was clear I was going nowhere. Frustration among fans kept growing, the law enforcement officials’ patience was running thin, and the match kick-off was fast approaching.

Every time the gates were briefly opened, a stampede of supporters — with or without tickets — forced their way through unattended scanning systems. Scenes were chaotic. With two little kids in tow, I couldn’t risk doing anything dangerous, so my wife and I decided to wait until a secure entrance was possible. That moment never came: Authorities kept the doors shut right before the start of the game, leaving us and many others outside with our overpriced tickets unused — and hearts broken.

Let’s be clear: None of this would have happened on Sunday without the thousands of ticketless vandals who went to extreme lengths to be part of the continent’s biggest football match. This condemnable and concerted thuggery would have challenged even the most seasoned promoters. Unfortunately, those in charge of organizing the final weren’t up to those standards. The result is a warning sign that US stadiums and cities should take seriously as the country prepares to host the World Cup together with Mexico and Canada in 2026. It’s also a reminder of how much South American football has to improve if it wants to play in the major leagues of global sports entertainment.