Copa America final chaos at Hard Rock Stadium raises concerns about US 2026 World Cup readiness

From CNBC: 2024-07-17 16:27:06

The CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium saw chaos as non-ticketed fans rushed the gates, causing damages and delays. 27 arrests were made, including Colombia’s soccer federation president. Questions about US preparedness for the 2026 World Cup are raised due to security failures and lack of checkpoints.

Hard Rock Stadium faced criticism for not implementing safety recommendations made by CONMEBOL. The US is set to host 78 out of 104 World Cup matches in 2026. An estimated 5 million fans are expected to travel to the 16 host cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico for the tournament. Despite mishaps, experts believe the US has the expertise to ensure the World Cup’s success by learning from Copa America’s mistakes.



Read more at CNBC: Copa America chaos raises doubts over U.S. 2026 World Cup readiness