The Miami Dolphins have begun counting their losses after the outrageous behaviour of fans at the Copa America final, held at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14. To date, the club is still estimating the enormity of the damage, with the first training session already scheduled for early August.

Estimating damage

Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins team, suffered significant damage as a result of the riots prior to the Copa America final. Crowds of fans without tickets stormed the entrance gates, causing the game to be delayed by 82 minutes.

According to reports issued by the stadium owners, fans fought with police, broke walls and barricades and destroyed the stadium infrastructure. The worst damage was in the premium 72 Club area, where escalators were destroyed and there was glass and debris everywhere. Pictures also show fans breaking through the ventilation system.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

The situation has raised concerns about the US' preparations to host the 2026 World Cup, which is also due to be held at the stadium. Stadium officials said they are now assessing the full extent of the damage, which may require a comprehensive structural assessment of the facility. The next scheduled event at the stadium is a Miami Dolphins practice, scheduled for August 3.

2026 World Cup stadium

Hard Rock Stadium is one of a number of stadiums that will host the 2026 World Cup. In addition to the United States, venues from Mexico and Canada are also on the list. You can find the entire list on our tournament page and on our YouTube channel.