Club World Cup gets massive security upgrade after chaotic incident that led to dozens of arrests

Fox Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas previews the U.S. Men’s national soccer team’s hopes ahead of the 2026 World Cup on "Fox News Live."

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, will have a massive police presence throughout the remainder of the Club World Cup this month, as the city looks to avoid a repeat of the near-deadly incident that resulted in 26 arrests last year.

The 2024 Copa America final saw a swarm of ticketless fans rush the gates for a match between Argentina and Colombia, leaving fans terrified and bloodied as security struggled to contain the crush, as they attempted to break in.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Fans try to enter the stadium amid disturbances prior to the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Videos showed some fans trying to climb through air vents to gain entry. Police had to lift distressed children over barriers to avoid them being crushed, while elsewhere officers tackled to the ground the ticketless fans they could catch in a forlorn attempt to keep the hoards at bay.

But things are different this summer.

"We’ve put extensive measures in place to protect fans, players and staff," Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said before the tournament. "The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is leading all security efforts for this global event."

Changes made over the past year mean fans for this tournament must pass through three separate checkpoints that enclose the entire campus before getting close to the stadium. Steel fencing is set up around the perimeter.

First up is a ticket check at temporary gates, taking up large parts of the