Chaotic scene erupts at Copa America final after fans storm gates without tickets
USA TODAY Sports’ Safid Deen describes fans jumping fences and being detained trying to sneak into the Copa America Final between Argentina and Colombia.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia is in the second half, after an eventful delay to the start of the match, and a right ankle injury to star Lionel Messi in the first half.
The score: Argentina 0, Colombia 0.
Messi sustained a right ankle injury during the first half, and will play in the second half. He tried to chase down and make a kick before the ball went out of bounds. But when Messi planted his right foot, it bent in an awkward position as he made a kick with his left foot.
Messi grimaced in pain and rolled over several times toward the field to be evaluated by trainers. He eventually stood up to walk off on his own power, but not without a visible limp. He eventually walked back onto the pitch, and stayed in the game for the first of the first half.
The Argentina and Colombia game did not begin until 9:22 p.m. ET, well after the original kickoff time of 8 p.m. The match was delayed after fans without tickets breached security gates around 6 p.m., causing fans to be kept outside the stadium before the game.
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions led by Messi, hopes to make history with its second straight Copa America title.
Colombia − riding a 28-game unbeaten streak into the final − hopes to win its second Copa America final and avenge its last defeat, which came against Argentina in February 2022.
Follow along here as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates from Sunday night’s match in Miami:
Ángel Di María, playing in his final match for Argentina, nearly had another big-time goal in a major game. But to no avail.
Colombia had a chance to begin the second half, but was unable to convert.
Messi, who injured his right ankle, has re-entered the match as the second half begins.
Messi appears fine, delivering a stellar corner kick. But a header by Nicolás Tagliafico was high over the net just before halftime.
It appears Lionel Messi has sustained a right ankle injury during the first half of the Copa America final.
Messi tried to chase and hit a ball before it went out of bounds. He planted his right foot, which bent in an awkward position before getting the kick away. Messi grimaced in pain and rolled over several times toward the field to be evaluated by trainers.
Messi eventually stood up to walk off on his own power, but not without a visible limp. He eventually walked back onto the pitch, and stayed in the game.
The injury happened at the 36th minute of the first half, during a scoreless match.
Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma found some space and let one go toward the net. It was just outside the left post, and the outstretched hands of Argentine goalie Dibu Martinez.
Lionel Messi had an opening and he fired away, but his kick was deflected by Colombian defender Davinson Sánchez just before the 20th minute.
This shot by Colombia’s Jhon Córdoba nearly resulted in an early lead. So close.
Before his final game with Argentina, Ángel Di María’s daughters presented the game ball to him before the match:
Messi appears ready for Copa America final: Here’s the latest
Well, the stadium is packed and the music has filled the delay. Now, players are being introduced to the crowd.
During pregame warmups, Lionel Messi made this free kick.
The situation with fans attempting to enter Hard Rock Stadium forced the match to be delayed a half hour.
Kickoff now is slated for 9:15 p.m. ET.
Around 8:11 p.m., police officers backed up and the gates open, allowing fans – with and without tickets scanned – to enter the stadium for the Copa America final.
Fans without tickets for Sunday’s Copa America final climbed fences and ran past security more than an hour before the Argentina-Colombia match at Hard Rock Stadium.
At least seven people were seen by USA TODAY Sports receiving treatment by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue near ramps entering the stadium. The people appeared to be in distress with flushed faces and were given bottles of water while sitting on the ground and along a low wall.
Messi scores to lead Argentina into Copa America final
Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s second goal of the game to help his team beat Canada 2-0 and advance to the Copa America final.
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Pres. Joe Biden will address the nation shortly before the Copa America final, forcing the broadcast to FS1 to begin the match at 8 p.m.
The game will continue on FOX after Biden’s speech, FOX Sports announced.
Spain won Euro 2024 with a 2-1 victory over England earlier Sunday, and could play the Copa America 2024 winner in the summer of 2025. A date or location is not yet determined.
The last Finalissima, played between Copa and Euro champions, was in 2022 when Argentina beat Italy.
The Argentina and Colombia match will be broadcast on FOX in English, Univision in Spanish.
HOW TO WATCH: See the full slate of Copa America games with a fuboTV subscription
A live stream can be found on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app in English, and on TUDN in Spanish.
Yes, Messi is playing. He is expected to start in tonight’s final, his ninth for the Argentine national team.
What’s on the line for Argentina in Copa America final?
Messi and Argentina could put the final touch on one of the greatest dynasties soccer has ever seen.
Another Copa America title tonight would be Argentina’s fourth major international championship in a three-year span.
Argentina won Copa America 2021. It beat the Euro 2021 champions, Italy, in the 2022 Finalissima two summers ago. Argentina won the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
What’s on the line for Colombia in Copa America final?
Colombia was unable to compete in the Qatar World Cup, so this Copa America has been a significant experience for the national team and the country.
Colombia hopes to win its second Copa America title (2001), and will play in its third Copa America final (1975, 2001).
Argentina 2, Colombia 1: James Rodriguez might manufacture a set piece to get on the board, but Argentina will rely on goals from Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria to win this title like they did their others, behind their elder statesman. Sorry, to my Colombian friends. But this Argentina dynasty isn’t coming to an end tonight. − Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter.
Argentina has +110 odds to win during the 90-minute match, while a draw is +190, and a Colombia win is +320, according to BETMGM. To lift the trophy, Argentina has -190 odds, while Colombia has +138.
How long is Colombia’s unbeaten streak?
Colombia has not lost in its last 28 matches. Its last loss was a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in an Olympic qualifying match on Feb. 1, 2022.
Argentina’s record in the last three years
Argentina has lost just three of its last 63 matches. Their last three losses: to Brazil in the Copa America 2019 semifinal; to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup opener; and to Uruguay in Olympic qualifying last November.
Will it be Messi’s last game with Argentina?
Messi, the 37-year-old Inter Miami star in Major League Soccer, could possibly play his last match in a major tournament for Argentina during the Copa America final. Although Messi has left the door open on playing in World Cup 2026, pending his health and desire to keep playing, this match could be his last in a major tournament if he changes his mind.
Tonight’s match will be the final one in an Argentine jersey for Angel Di Maria, the big-game scorer who has helped Messi lift the international monkey off his back during the club’s recent run of championships.
Messi, 37, has left the door open about playing in the 2026 World Cup. Here’s what he’s said earlier this year about when he could potentially retire.
It’s surreal to imagine how Messi posed with 17-year-old Spain phenom Lamine Yamal for these photos when Yamal was just a baby. Here’s the story behind the viral photos of Messi and Yamal.
Luis Suarez, the Inter Miami star and Uruguay’s leading scorer, came to his country’s rescue with a late goal in the final minutes of stoppage time to force a tie and penalty shootout. Suarez also kicked the game-winning penalty kick to help Uruguay beat Canada 2-2 (4-3 on penalties) in the Copa America third-place match.
Canada finished Copa America 2024 in fourth place, but with an outstanding showing ahead of World Cup 2026.