By Steve Levine
Published: June 16, 2026
What Is This Settlement About?
On July 14, 2024, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida hosted the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia. In the hours before kickoff, crowds overwhelmed the stadium gates. Fans without tickets pushed toward the entrances, security and gate operations broke down, and the venue closed its gates. Many people who held valid, paid tickets were never let in, while others made it inside but could not reach the seats they had paid for or use the stadium's facilities.Ticketholders sued, alleging negligence and breach of their ticket contracts. To resolve the litigation, the defendants agreed to create a $14 million settlement fund. The court granted preliminary approval on November 25, 2025. The defendants — South Florida Stadium LLC (which owns and operates Hard Rock Stadium), CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and BEST Crowd Management — deny any wrongdoing and have settled to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement covers valid ticketholders to the July 14, 2024 Copa América final at Hard Rock Stadium. It is split into two groups:• Denied Entry Class: people who held valid tickets but were denied entry to the stadium and never got in.
• Denied Full Access Class: people who held valid tickets and were admitted to the stadium, but were denied full access to and enjoyment of the stadium's facilities or the specific seats they purchased.
People who bought or held tickets but resold them before the match are not eligible to claim for those resold tickets. Each claimant must identify every person they purchased tickets for.
How Much Can You Get?
Payments depend on which class you fall into:• Denied Entry Class: reimbursement of up to $2,000 per ticket for out-of-pocket ticket costs, which includes up to $300 in travel costs.
• Denied Full Access Class: $100 per ticket.
Claims are limited to one claim form per household. Payments come out of the $14 million fund, which also covers notice and administration costs, court-approved attorneys' fees and costs (Class Counsel may request up to 25%, or $3.5 million), service awards to the class representatives, and taxes. If the total of approved claims exceeds what's available, Denied Entry Class claims are paid first and Denied Full Access Class awards are reduced pro rata — but no Denied Full Access claimant who qualifies will receive less than $50; if applying that $50 floor would overshoot the fund, Denied Entry awards are instead reduced pro rata. Final amounts are not guaranteed until the claims period closes and the settlement receives final approval.
You can choose to receive your payment by Venmo, PayPal, ACH, or Zelle, or by mailed check. Checks expire and become void 90 days after they are issued.
How to File a Claim
Claims are submitted through the official settlement website, FinalMatchSettlement.com, where you can also download a paper claim form to mail in. If you received a personalized notice, you can start your claim using the Notice ID and Confirmation Code printed on it, but you do not need those codes to file. Every claimant must submit valid proof of purchase for the tickets being claimed.Denied Entry Class members have an extra requirement: each must submit a date- and time-stamped photo or video taken outside the stadium during the final that clearly shows their face (minors excepted), or — if they don't have one — a copy of a government-issued photo ID. The administrator may use technology, including facial recognition, to compare a denied-entry claimant's photo or ID against footage from in and around the stadium to verify the claim; the settlement says any such facial-scan data is used only to authenticate denied-entry claims and is destroyed after the claims process. The online deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on August 11, 2026 (mailed forms must be postmarked by that date).
Do I Need Proof to File?
Yes. This is a proof-required settlement. Every claimant must submit valid proof of purchase — a receipt or other proof of payment — for the tickets being claimed. Denied Entry Class members face the stricter bar described above: a time-stamped photo or video taken outside the stadium during the final, or a government-issued photo ID. Gather your ticket order confirmations, receipts, and any photos or videos from that day before you file.Beware of Scams
With a high-profile settlement like this one, copycat sites and phishing messages are common. The only legitimate place to file is the court-approved administrator's website, FinalMatchSettlement.com. A real settlement administrator will never ask you to pay a fee to file, send money to "release" your payment, or hand over your Social Security number to verify a ticket purchase. When in doubt, type the official web address into your browser yourself instead of clicking a link in an unexpected email or text.Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Copa América final settlement?
Valid ticketholders to the July 14, 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium. There are two groups: the Denied Entry Class (valid ticketholders who were turned away and never got in) and the Denied Full Access Class (people who got inside but could not reach their purchased seats or use stadium facilities because of the overcrowding).
How much money can I get from the settlement?
Denied Entry Class members can receive reimbursement of up to $2,000 per ticket for out-of-pocket ticket costs, which includes up to $300 in travel costs. Denied Full Access Class members can receive $100 per ticket. Final amounts depend on the number of valid claims and court approval, and may be reduced pro rata if claims exceed the $14 million fund.
What is the deadline to file a claim?
The deadline to submit a claim form is August 11, 2026. Claims are filed through the official settlement website, FinalMatchSettlement.com.
Do I need proof to file a claim?
Yes. Every claimant must submit valid proof of purchase (a receipt or other proof of payment) for the tickets being claimed. Denied Entry Class members must additionally submit a date- and time-stamped photo or video taken outside the stadium during the final showing their face, or a government-issued photo ID, which the administrator may verify using technology that can include facial recognition.
How much is the Copa América final settlement?
The settlement creates a $14 million fund. It resolves claims against South Florida Stadium LLC (operator of Hard Rock Stadium), CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, and BEST Crowd Management over the chaos at the July 14, 2024 Copa América final. The defendants deny any wrongdoing.
Sources
• Official Settlement Website — FinalMatchSettlement.com• ESPN — Copa América organizers settle for $14M after final debacle
• CNN — Copa América 2024: Federal class action lawsuit seeks refunds for ticketed fans
Official Settlement Notice
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please note that your claim form may be rejected if you submit a claim with fraudulent information. By providing this information and your sworn statement of its veracity, you agree to do so under penalty of perjury. You would also be harming others who actually qualify for the settlement. If you are not sure whether you qualify, visit the official settlement administrator's website above. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not a settlement administrator or a law firm. OpenClassActions participates in the Amazon affiliate program and this post may contain affiliate links.
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