Organizational Failures Mar Copa América 2024
The Copa América 2024, held in the United States, was supposed to be a celebration of soccer, but it was plagued by numerous organizational issues. From the quality of the grass on the fields to security lapses, the tournament faced criticism at every turn. The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) and its president, Alejandro Domínguez, were at the center of these controversies.
Grass Quality and Logistics Issues
One of the earliest complaints came from Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni, who criticized the state of the grass. "It's been known for seven months that we played here and they changed the grass two days ago," he said after Argentina's opening match against Canada. Similar sentiments were echoed by Colombia's star player James Rodríguez, who described the pitch conditions as "dry" and "weird." Conmebol defended itself, stating that all stadiums met FIFA standards and highlighting the effort involved in installing natural grass in six stadiums and replanting it in three others.
Security Concerns and Fan Incidents
Security issues also marred the tournament. During a match between Colombia and Uruguay, Uruguayan players clashed with Colombian fans in the stands, alleging that their families were attacked. Uruguay's coach Marcelo Bielsa harshly criticized Conmebol for not ensuring the safety of the players' families. The situation escalated during the final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium, where security lapses caused chaos. Thousands of fans without tickets tried to force their way into the stadium, delaying the match by over an hour.
Impact on Future Tournaments
The organizational failures of Copa América 2024 have raised questions about the United States' ability to host future major soccer events like the Club World Cup in 2025 and the World Cup in 2026. The tournament, which had previously been held in the U.S. in 2016, was expected to run smoothly, but the series of errors have cast doubt on the country's readiness for upcoming international soccer events.
