Fans storm security and break through gates at Copa América final

Police were forced to intervene and makes arrests after dozens of fans crashed through the barriers and sought to gain entry to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Ahead of kickoff multiple arrests were made after a number of fans broke through a gate at the southeast of the stadium. Police were forced to temporarily close that side of the venue and and logjam is already forming with anxious fans with tickets desperately trying to enter.

Fans on the ground, in sweltering conditions, are suffered the effects of the disruption. Kickoff has been pushed back to 8:30pm local time as a result, a 30-minute delay.

How did Argentina and Colombia reach the Copa América final?

The two teams competing in the final are, by most estimations, the two strongest teams in the competition. Argentina have won the last two major international tournaments (2021 Copa América, 2022 World Cup), Colombia were on a 28-game unbeaten streak heading into the final and boast an in-form James Rodríguez.

Argentina eased through the group stage with wins over Canada, Chile and Peru, not conceding a single goal in the process. All looked to be plain sailing for Lionel Scaloni’s side but a quarter-final meeting with Ecuador nearly knocked them off their perch. Argentina took the lead through Lautaro Martínez but conceded a leveller deep into injury time, taking the game to penalties. Argentina triumphed in the shootout, thanks to more heroics from Emiliano Martínez, and then swept aside Canada with a 2-0 win in the semi-final.

Colombia, too, have been in imperious form this tournament and have made it through a tougher route to the final. They topped a group that included Brazil, Costa Rica and Paraguay, before beating Panama 5-0 in the quarter-final. Their real test came in the semi-final when Colombia, down to ten men in the first half, beat fancied Uruguay 1-0 to book their place in the final.