The closed black gates at the southwest entrance of Hard Rock Stadium had been shut for an hour and 45 minutes when a young child was lifted onto a guardian’s shoulders amidst the crowd of people waiting to enter for the Copa América final.
The boy, wearing a sky blue and white Argentina jersey with Messi’s No. 10, reached out towards the police officers and security guards by the lone open door. He clasped his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, pleading with them to allow him entry.
“Please,” he begged. “Please.”
With a security guard pulling them towards the gate, the boy and his guardian were allowed in, leading to tears of relief from the boy.
Over two hours, similar scenes unfolded as fans clamored against the closed gates at the Miami Gardens stadium, overshadowing the impending game between Argentina and Colombia.
Supporters rush into Hard Rock Stadium ahead of Sunday’s Copa America final (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Fans were advised to arrive early and watch parties outside the stadium were banned. Hard Rock Stadium emphasized the necessity of having a game ticket to enter the campus on Sunday.
The crowd began to swell around 6 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m. and tensions escalating due to unruly behavior. Fans were arrested for attempting to breach security without tickets.