Argentina returns to Miami under tighter security

MIAMI — As fans battle the summer scorch to watch Argentina and Cape Verde today, local officials know what they are trying to avoid.

The last time Argentina played a major tournament was also in Miami Gardens, in July 2024, when the team was crowned Copa América champion after defeating Colombia. Before kickoff, thousands of fans — including those who didn’t have tickets — stormed the stadium gates and rushed past security. Dozens of people were ejected or arrested, and the game’s start time was delayed by more than an hour.

An after-action report from Miami-Dade County found that the incident was caused by a lack of intelligence gathering, insufficient security perimeters and large numbers of unticketed fans on site.

“Miami-Dade Emergency Management has conducted various training and exercises across a wide range of threat scenarios to enhance coordination, strengthen preparedness, and ensure a coordinated response among local, state, and federal partners during major events,” Dianne Fernandez, a spokesperson for county Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, said in a statement.

Fernandez referred specific questions on what protocols have changed since Copa America to the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said in a June press conference that the sheriff’s office would be using specialized training and equipment to control crowds. Fans will have to present their tickets multiple times before they “get anywhere near the stadium,” Cordero-Stutz said.

There is one new variable in the mix this time: triple-digit “feels like” temperatures and oppressive humidity Friday as a heat dome wallops the eastern U.S. Sweltering South Florida weather has already caused dozens of heat-related emergency calls during World Cup games this summer.

Miami Stadium’s Friday match is set to start at 6 p.m., only slightly outside of the day’s highest temperatures. Public health experts have flagged that searing summer weather could prove dangerous for players and fans alike, especially in open-air stadiums like Miami’s or street parties with copious amounts of alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration.

Local officials said they’ve changed heat protocols as the World Cup progresses and have rolled out public messaging urging fans and international visitors to stay cautious amid the heat.

The county has installed cooling stations at Miami Stadium where fans and employees can access air conditioning and advertised a public network of libraries, parks and government buildings where other residents and visitors can cool down. The county will also have water trailers and water refill stations at public transit stops for fans to stay hydrated.

“Miami-Dade is proud to welcome the world to our County to celebrate this historic moment, and we want every resident and visitor to enjoy the experience safely,” Levine Cava said in a June press release. “Heat is not a game — and in Miami-Dade, we know it.”