Copa America - the 'party that almost became a tragedy'

The 2024 Copa America was expected to showcase nan Americas' passion for football.

But, arsenic Argentine newspaper Ole put it, "this statement almost became a tragedy".

Hosted by nan United States, successful immoderate of nan biggest and champion stadiums successful world sport, nan tourney was beset by problems.

It featured mediocre pitches, half-empty stadiums and crowd problem earlier ending successful chaotic scenes connected Sunday.

The final betwixt Argentina and Colombia was delayed by 80 minutes aft ticketless fans forced their measurement into Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

Several arrests were made aft clashes pinch constabulary and information personnel, while respective supporters needed curen from paramedics.

It was acold from nan showpiece nan organisers hoped for and raises concerns earlier nan 2026 World Cup, group to beryllium co-hosted by nan US, Canada and Mexico.

So what went incorrect and what tin beryllium learned from an arena Argentine media outlet Todo Noticias branded a "world-class failure"?

Problems were evident successful nan opening crippled betwixt Argentina and Canada. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from some teams complained astir nan information of nan transportation successful Atlanta.

Eleven of nan 14 big venues were NFL stadiums and six of them had writer pitches installed complete an artificial surface. In immoderate cases, nan turf was laid conscionable days before.

The tourney is organised by Conmebol, South American football's governing body, which said it carried retired tests earlier and aft games that showed pitches were successful bully condition.

But Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said successful a news convention that they were "a plague of liars", that nan training pitches provided "were a disaster", and that Scaloni and his players had been "threatened" not to speak out.

Brazil’s Real Madrid guardant Vinicius Jr criticised some nan modular of nan pitches and refereeing, while nan Football Federation of Chile (FFC) asked for referee Wilmar Roldan to beryllium sanctioned for "disastrous conduct" during their last group game.

Uruguay players past clashed pinch Colombia fans aft their semi-final defeat, having gone into nan stands to protect their families.

The Uruguay Football Association (AUF) said location were insufficient information measures successful spot astatine nan crippled successful Charlotte, wherever Colombian and Uruguayan fans were not segregated.

Most of nan games successful nan knockout stages were sold out, but crowds were importantly beneath capacity astatine 50% of nan 32 games crossed nan tournament.

That was partially because of summons prices. The mean costs was estimated to beryllium astir $200 (£155), though tickets for definite games were acold much costly connected US resale sites and because of move summons pricing.

Before Sunday's final, Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo had already complained astir Colombian popstar Shakira performing a half-time show, meaning nan interval would past for 25 minutes alternatively than 15.

Conmebol besides issued a connection saying that only summons holders would beryllium allowed to participate nan stadium field earlier nan 20:00 kick-off (local time).

But arsenic nan scheduled kick-off clip approached, a connection from a stadium spokesperson said that thousands of ticketless fans had "attempted to forcibly participate nan stadium", which has a capacity of 65,000.

Footage shows fans breaching nan stadium gates, climbing complete perimeter walls and fencing, and moreover done ventilation ducts.

A stadium connection later explained that arsenic gates were "closed and re-opened strategically", immoderate fans "continued to prosecute successful forbidden behaviour - fighting constabulary officers, breaking down walls and barricades and vandalising nan stadium, causing important harm to nan property".

It had go overcrowded extracurricular nan stadium, pinch fans waiting successful 31C heat, and a associated determination was made - for a short play - to let fans successful without scanning tickets "to forestall stampedes and superior wounded astatine nan perimeter".

"The gates were past closed erstwhile nan threat of fans being crushed was alleviated," nan connection added. "At that time, nan venue was astatine capacity and gates were not re-opened."

Players’ families were besides progressive successful nan chaos, and Argentina coach Scaloni said afterwards: "We had to commencement a lucifer without knowing wherever our family members were. It was very weird."

The crippled yet kicked disconnected much than an hr late. With location being other clip arsenic good arsenic nan half-time show, it did not decorativeness until 00:09 section time.

Eight of nan Copa America venues will besides beryllium utilized for nan 2026 World Cup. They see nan Hard Rock Stadium, which is group to big 7 matches including a quarter-final and nan third-place play-off.

A stadium connection said that nan venue will activity pinch rule enforcement to place those responsible for Sunday's upset and reappraisal nan processes successful spot "to guarantee specified an arena ne'er happens again".

It added that nan number of rule enforcement officers and information unit connected tract was much than double that for regular sellout events.

"We understand location are disappointed summons holders who were not capable to participate nan stadium aft nan perimeter was closed, and we will activity successful business pinch Conmebol to reside those individual concerns," nan connection read.

"Ultimately, location is thing much important than nan wellness and information of each guests and staff, and that will ever stay our priority."

While Conmebol is responsible for nan Copa America, nan World Cup is organised by nan world governing assemblage Fifa, truthful nan North America-based Independent Supporters Council (ISC) is "confident" nan 2026 tourney will invited fans "safely and adequately".

A connection added: "While Copa America highlighted superior issues that could hap and make group apprehensive astir making nan travel to North America, we spot that nan big cities and readying committees person taken statement of those issues and are already anticipating and readying accordingly.

Conmebol and Fifa person been approached for comment.