Argentina Wins Record 16th Copa America Title, Defeats Colombia 1-0 in Chaotic Final

Jul 15, 2024, 05:18 PM

Argentina secured its record 16th Copa America title by defeating Colombia 1-0 in a dramatic final. Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal in the 112th minute, ensuring Argentina's back-to-back Copa America victories and their third straight major title. The match, held at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, was marred by chaos as fans breached security gates, leading to a delayed kickoff. Miami-Dade Police reported 27 arrests and 55 ejections, with 800 officers deployed for crowd control. Lionel Messi, who celebrated his second Copa America win, was seen emotional with tears of joy and dealing with a severe ankle injury. The disorganized event has raised concerns about the U.S.'s readiness to host the 2026 World Cup, with CONMEBOL and stadium officials blaming each other for the security failures.