Despite an unacceptable pre-match debacle, fans couldn’t have asked for a better Copa América final between two of the most dominant teams in South American soccer. Before Sunday’s showpiece, World Cup champions Argentina had only lost twice in the past 61 games, while Colombia entered the final on an outstanding two-and-a-half year unbeaten run.
It’s a shame there had to be one winner, considering the quality both teams demonstrated at the 2024 Copa América as a whole. However, it was Argentina who reigned supreme and lifted the trophy on a humid, chaotic evening. It was Argentina who wrote its name in history with an unprecedented 16th Copa title.
Read on for the key takeaways and moments from the 2024 Copa América final.
THE RESULT
Argentina 1, Colombia 0 [extra time] in Miami: Match report
A survival of the fittest
Sunday evening’s showpiece was tight, tense, and everything you’d expect from a final.
Colombia began on the front foot with a high press and dominant possession. Néstor Lorenzo’s side dictated a quick pace, switched the ball, and pulled off long passes with confidence and ease. Over the entirety of the 2024 Copa América, we’ve seen Colombia find a system that suits its versatile and fluid players, which accumulated in the final. The 4-2-3-1 formation Lorenzo implemented suits each players’ strengths — Santiago Arias’ leadership and power on the backline, Jefferson Lerma’s ball control in the middle, and James Rodríguez’s crafty left foot from the wing, for example. This physical and creative formation was a masterclass for all coaches (and even soccer fans) to learn from.
But, the Colombians didn’t do enough in the box, even if the opportunities were there. With Argentina’s goalkeeping master Emiliano Martínez between the sticks, only pulling off shots from distance isn’t going to cut it. Rodríguez & Co. were offensive, aggressive and impressively built attack from the backline, but were missing the final product. However, we have to give credit where it’s due. Argentina’s defending in the final third was a display of effective marking and an undeterred desire to not let the ball in the net. Even though La Albiceleste’s possession in the first 45 was only 48 per cent (the first time it was below 50 since the 2022 World Cup), Lionel Scaloni’s side managed to maintain the deadlock. It’s what Argentina does best — finds a way to grind it out even when not playing the best soccer.
The second half continued much the same as the first. Colombia had chances, but missed them. Argentina tried to break Los Cafeteros’ press, but was mostly unsuccessful. The classic South American aggressive style emerged, which forced Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Montiel off with injury. But slowly and surely, Argentina worked to break down Lorenzo’s men — something champions do best. The World Cup winners’ stamina and belief was enough to force an additional 30 minutes.
It’s almost as if this final was destined to go to extra time, a survival of the fittest. From the pre-match chaos (more on that below), the heavy heat and the emotions involved with playing for a trophy, the players showed grit while putting their bodies and minds on the line. Extra time passed like a fever dream, with players going down here, there and everywhere. The ball was end-to-end. The athletes looked lethargic after a long month of soccer. But still, no one gave up.
In the 112th-minute, substitute Lautaro Martínez found a hole in the Colombian defence. Giovani Lo Celso spotted the opening, sent the Inter Milan forward the ball, and the 26-year-old made no mistake hammering the ball into the net. Argentina’s knack for closing out even the toughest of games needs to be studied, because what Scaloni’s side pulled off in the face of adversity was something special.
Pre-match disaster raises alarm bells
Unfortunately, a storyline that cannot be ignored is the chaos that ensued before the match.
Fans without tickets found access to the stadium, causing aggressive and dangerous scenes at Hard Rock Stadium. In the wake of this breach, a group of fans were detained and security closed the gates – which prevented thousands of ticket-holders from entering the stadium.
As a result, kickoff was delayed by 75 minutes. Fights broke out, and people were stranded outside the venue in the blazing sun (with temperatures as high as 31 degrees celsius). Supporters were anxious, tired, thirsty, and many fainted in the bottleneck. Photos posted to social media showed fans sitting on the ground in tears, pouring water on themselves in desperate attempts to calm and cool down. The Miami-Dade Police made arrests for battery, and Fire Rescue arrived to help those affected by heat exhaustion. But in truth, the situation was out of control.
A police statement later called out supporters’ “unruly behaviour” and expressed a “zero tolerance” policy, which clearly wasn’t reciprocated. And after all that, people ended up being let in without ticket checks. Naturally the stadium hit capacity, meaning some fans who purchased tickets (even some upwards of $2000 each) were unable to enter the stadium to watch the game. If supporters found someone already in their seat, security allegedly said there was nothing to be done. At one point, fans were crawling through vent shafts to enter the venue, and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister reportedly left the locker room to help his family safely enter the stadium.
In other words, it was a complete and utter disaster.
As health and safety of players and supporters is of the utmost importance, work must be done ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hard Rock Stadium is a host venue for the international tournament, and such a security disaster is extremely concerning this close to the next Cup. Albeit, FIFA will be running the show in two years, rather than Conmebol. But Conmebol must get its act together. From Uruguay players and Colombia fans fighting in the stands after the semifinal, to the altercations Sunday night, the South American football federation must do better.
Additionally, it cannot be understated how situations like these affect the players. The Argentina and Colombia athletes experienced uncertainty, safety concerns, disjointed warmups and were forced to halt or abandon pre-game superstitions. Not only did the situation compromise the players physically, but the mental repercussions would have been jarring.
It’s a shame that for some people, the debacle overshadowed the final itself and the quality on the pitch. Sunday night was a massive moment in the history of both Argentinian and Colombian soccer, but what will be remembered is the devastating precursor to the showpiece.
MOMENT OF THE DAY
In Ángel Di María’s final international match for Argentina, his daughters received the honour of delivering the match ball at the beginning of the game. They hugged their dad, which brought a smile to the 36-year-old’s face seconds before kickoff.
SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
Photos resurfaced of a young Luis Díaz and Alejandro Garnacho posing with their soccer idols, James Rodríguez and Lionel Messi. Years later, they’re all playing in the same Copa América final. Talk about a full circle moment.
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina): Talk about a super sub! The 26-year-old striker stepped on the pitch in extra time and made an immediate impact. Scoring the tournament-winning goal and earning the golden boot will go down in Argentina’s history books.
2. Ángel Di María (Argentina): In his last Argentina game, the veteran put in a tireless performance. He is the definition of a trusted leader, and maintained composure and class even in dire circumstances. What a way to end his international career.
3. Santiago Arias (Colombia): Despite taking down Messi late in the first half, the 32-year-old showed exceptional strength and leadership on the backline — especially in the absence of Daniel Muñoz. He even got a zinger of a shot in the 48th-minute, which went just wide. It was probably Colombia’s best shot of the game.
