US organizers avoid disaster – DW – July 15, 2024

Lionel Messi's last competitive game in an Argentina jersey, perhaps Colombia's first real competitive win: Given these historic opening points, expect emotions to run high ahead of the Copa America final in the United States. Despite ridiculously high resale prices ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 on the official sales site “Ticketmaster” for a few days, it's no wonder that many fans are trying to somehow get a glimpse of their heroes.

Latin American soccer supporters are not true fans, consumers, or customers. Unlike American soccer fans, who are absent from their national team's games, Hispanics fill stadiums and ticket offices. Sometimes they're a little emotional, but you know that—and maybe you should know that. The hosts of the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia (1-0 aet) are obviously not aware.

Confusion before the entrance gate

It was a chaotic picture at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday evening: tens of thousands of fans were waiting outside the gates for the originally scheduled kick-off time. Some of them without tickets. Others apparently fell for the ticket scam and still wanted to enter. In the middle of it were visitors with invalid tickets.

Busy, overworked workers and police tried to push the crowd back, almost trapping them in a kind of cage. Children screamed or cried, others simply could not breathe. The organizers were in for a disaster.

Security guards do not speak Spanish

Unlike the visitors, most of the security forces did not speak Spanish, which made communication very difficult. So some fans tried to climb over the fences, while others tried to find their way through the ventilation shafts – clearly out of fear of not being able to get into the stadium without a ticket.

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The police acted harshly. It was not initially ascertained how many people were arrested that evening. In front of the fences, many of the arrested lay with their hands and feet tied. As panic spread among the crowd, the officials at the stadium decided to open the gates. The stadium operator spoke of several thousand fans who turned up without tickets. However, some video footage suggests that the bars simply gave way under the pressure of the trapped people.

Now all the audience came to the arena at the same time. Again the menacing scenes took place on stairs like escalators. All who had been standing in front of the gate were now admitted, and the stadium was overflowing. Police and desperate, even horrified, volunteers at least tried to keep entrances and exits clear. It's a hopeless endeavor. Due to the chaotic situation around the pitch, the final will start 82 minutes late.

Moving into the winter months?

In addition to institutional shortcomings and Americans' lack of interest in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, there are other challenges. Heats of more than 40 degrees were recorded in Miami and Texas at the tournament venues.

“Extreme heat with high humidity undoubtedly reduces physical performance,” Riccardo La Volpe told DW on the sidelines of the final. The former Mexico and Costa Rica national coach recommends considering a postponement: “I think the best time is to play in December or January. But that's up to FIFA to decide.”

Brazilian TV expert and former Bundesliga player Graphite sees it the same way when asked by DW: “It's difficult to prepare for a game in 40-degree heat.” Most of the players are active in European football. Most of the season takes place in autumn or winter with mild temperatures.

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“Now they come to America in the final stages of the season to prepare for a game in 40-degree heat. There's no real preparation for that.”