Settlement Reached in Copa América Class Action Lawsuit

omidbasir- A settlement has been reached in the class action lawsuit initiated by fans following the tumultuous 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Due to significant crowd disruptions before kickoff, numerous ticket-holding fans were unable to enter the venue, while others chose to leave early due to safety concerns. These affected individuals are expected to form the majority of those filing claims against the defendants.

The lawsuit listed CONMEBOL, Concacaf, Best Security, and South Florida Stadium LLC—owner and operator of Hard Rock Stadium—as defendants. Under the terms of the settlement, these parties will collectively contribute over $14 million to a fund accessible to fans impacted by the crowd issues during the final. The final payout will vary based on the number of claims submitted.

Jeff Newsome, the attorney representing the plaintiffs from Varnell & Warwick PA, remarked, “This case was about standing up for the fans. Today, the Named Plaintiffs and the entire Class Counsel team are proud to deliver real relief to the class members of the Copa América Class Action lawsuit.” He further stated, “We look forward to presenting the settlement to the Court.”

Neither a spokesperson from Concacaf nor Hard Rock Stadium provided comments to ESPN, and CONMEBOL did not respond to inquiries. Efforts to contact Best Security for comments were also unsuccessful.

The final match witnessed an 82-minute delay as ticketless fans breached security barriers to gain entry. In response, stadium officials locked down the venue to regain control. However, as dangerous conditions arose—threatening to crush fans against the gates outside—the venue was reopened, allowing entry to some fans regardless of ticket status. Once the stadium reached its capacity, the gates were closed again, denying access to certain ticket holders.

Miami-Dade Police reported 27 arrests and 55 ejections at the event, while Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to 120 incidents, primarily medical in nature.

According to settlement terms reviewed by ESPN, plaintiffs are categorized into two groups. The first group consists of fans who were “denied entry” to the stadium due to crowd issues, eligible for refunds of up to $2,000 per person. Although some fans may have paid more than $2,000 for tickets on the secondary market, the settlement aims to cover the majority of ticket costs. Fans who paid less than $2,000 can also claim up to $300 in travel-related expenses, provided the total does not exceed the $2,000 cap.

The second category includes fans who experienced “denied full access and enjoyment of Hard Rock Stadium facilities or specific seats purchased.” This includes limitations on purchasing concessions or merchandise due to overcrowding, with compensation capped at $100 per person.

Affected fans must file claims and provide a time-stamped photo or proof of identification, ticket purchase verification, and an affirmation of either denied entry or limited access to the stadium. They must also confirm that they have not received refunds for any claimed out-of-pocket expenses.

Fans interested in participating in the settlement can find filing instructions at FinalMatchSettlement.com.

This report also includes contributions from ESPN writer Lizzy Becherano.