Miami-Dade to review World Cup plans after Copa chaos

NEW YORK :Miami-Dade County in Florida will review security protocol for the 2026 World Cup after more than two dozen fans were arrested at Sunday's Copa America final, capping a tournament rife with discord.

Fans without tickets rushed security and tried to force their way into the Hard Rock Stadium, organizers said, leading to a chaotic scene at the future World Cup venue.

Police initiated a lockdown and hundreds of fans were stuck outside in sweltering heat as South American football's governing body CONMEBOL repeatedly delayed the match between Argentina and Colombia. The match finally kicked off over an hour late.

"Last night our law enforcement teams responded swiftly to handle an extremely challenging, dangerous situation posing life safety concerns for attendees," James Reyes, the chief of public safety for Miami-Dade County, said in a statement.

"We are working with the event organizers to conduct a comprehensive review of all safety and security protocols, as we continue to prepare for the World Cup in 2026."

There were 27 arrests and 55 ejections made. More than 800 law enforcement officers were present at the stadium, which is the home of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and is used to welcoming massive crowds at sport's biggest events, including the Super Bowl four years ago.

A source with knowledge of the security plans told Reuters that security was more lax for the Copa final than for the 2020 NFL championship game, where fans could not get anywhere near stadium entrances without showing a pass at an outside perimeter.

Hard Rock Stadium did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its security plans but said in a prior statement that it had "more than double" the personnel on Sunday than