FIFA's Club World Cup is a security test for Miami. Will it pass?
When the FIFA Club World Cup tournament kicks off on June 14 with a match between Inter Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly, the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will be doing more than just hosting a soccer match. It will be showing the world that Miami has learned from last year's Copa America security failures, and that it's prepared to host World Cup games in 2026.
The Club World Cup is the first big security test since last year's mayhem at the Copa America final turned Miami into an international spectacle. Thousands of fans — including those without tickets — stormed the gates to watch the final game between Argentina and Colombia. Dozens were arrested, 55 others were ejected and the game was delayed by over an hour. And some ticketed fans who paid thousands of dollars to attend were left unable to watch the game.
The security breach was more than a logistical disaster. It was a public safety failure.
And it was a hard lesson. An after-action report by Miami-Dade County, first reported by ESPN, found inadequate intelligence gathering, insufficient security perimeters and a large number of unticketed fans created a perfect storm leading to a security nightmare.
One obvious conclusion from the report: Law enforcement must monitor digital chatter ahead of the tournament to see if any plans are being made that could signal potential security challenges on game days.
As reported by Axios, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office is taking steps to implement stronger security measures. A spokesperson told Axios 'A stronger screening process will be implemented along the exterior gates to manage the crowd, ensure public safety and hinder those without valid tickets from entering the campus.'
There will also be 'significant law enforcement and security footprint in and around the stadium,' the sheriff's office said.
It looks as though last year's failures are being addressed, and that's welcome news.
A key factor to see if the new security measures do work will be crowd size. Earlier this week, though, The Athletic reported that ticket sales were slower than expected for the Club World Cup.
If there are a lot of empty seats, maybe the Club World Cup won't provide the toughest stress test for security, but it does seem that law enforcement is learning from the past.
The biggest takeaway from Copa America is the need for preparation well ahead of game day. Police must monitor social media platforms, communicate with fans and be prepared to make real-time adjustments if the crowd's size is beyond initial expectations. The responsibility will fall on FIFA — which is the international governing body for soccer — along with law enforcement and the Hard Rock Stadium. They cannot afford to be reactive again.
The stadium has hosted other large crowds recently, a positive sign. Last fall, Miami welcomed Taylor Swift and 350,000 Swifties for three nights at the Hard Rock without incident. Of course, a series of Taylor Swift concerts is very different from a soccer tournament, but it's a good indication for the future that the concerts went well.
All of this matters a lot when it comes to the World Cup. Being a host city for the World Cup is a privilege. With that privilege comes the responsibility of ensuring everyone is kept safe. The eyes of the world will be on us.
Copa America was a wake up call. The Club World Cup could be the test we need to pass. In the end, we want fans who aren't calling foul but are yelling GOOOOAAALL!
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