Wife of USA soccer star reveals her traumatic ordeal as she tried to get into the Copa America final with their eight-year-old daughter

The wife of former USA and Premier League soccer player Stuart Holden has explained her horrific ordeal trying to get into Sunday's chaotic Copa America final.

Holden, who played over 20 times for the USMNT and represented Bolton, was working on the game between Argentina and Colombia as a TV analyst for Fox.

But his wife Karalyn and daughter Kenna attended the game in Miami as fans. However, they got caught up in the terrifying scenes outside the Hard Rock Stadium that saw huge crushes as fans breached security gates.

Fans were caught on video jumping over security railings near the southwest entrance of the stadium and running past police officers and stadium attendants. 

Screams could be heard in the background of footage captured around the stadium as people were crushed because of the huge congestion caused by the chaos. 

Stuart Holden's wife Karalyn posted a thread of their Copa America final ordeal on Sunday

Holden was working as a TV analyst for Fox between Argentina and Colombia in Miami

Miami mayor Daniella Levine Cava has since admitted she was 'outraged' by the chaotic scenes at the stadium that is due to host matches at the 2026 World Cup. 

Sharing her terrifying experience on X on Monday morning, Holden wrote: 'I brought our 8yr old to the Copa America final last night & we got caught in the scary masses outside the stadium.

'When we got to SE Entry gate, there were 1000s of people waiting to get in, gates closed (this was 7pm) As we stood in the 90deg heat, bodies pressed against each other, I started to get an awful feeling.

'I texted @stuholden who was in the stadium, if he knew what was going on because people were panicking. They kept pushing into my kid, trying to force their way 2 the front of the gate, which was still closed.

'It was so chaotic I was trying to stay aware and not on my phone. I felt so bad for Kenna who was so small, the bodies kept smashing into her face, I was in full mama bear mode. I looked over and a girl next to us looked so pale & when I asked her if she was okay, she said no and started to go down.

'I caught her as she passed out, and landed on the ground. She was with someone in a wheelchair chair & couldn’t help her, I had her on my lap, and was dumping the last of Kenna's water on her to cool her down. No one else helped us. 

'Her mom (I assume) came pushing thru the crowd & helped me get her to her feet. They took the guy out of the wheelchair and put her in the seat. Mind you all of this is happening as we are body to body with people still trying to get around us, stepping over me while I’m helping her on the ground this all happened in the first 15 min of us in this crowd. 

'We stood there for another 40 min, trying to figure out a solution with Stu via text, who was also about to go live on air. I stayed put for fear of the masses rushing the gates until I got an update. I saw that Euros 2020 documentary about that breach - I wasn’t f***ing with a stampede. 

'Two guys who stayed next to us the whole time, & who I happily updated when I got info from inside, helped me create a barrier around Kenna. We were out there for over an hour. I am so angry with Conmebol for putting everyone in danger. There should have been a perimeter set up wayyyy outside the stadium. Take notes from FIFA.

Karalyn posted this picture showing the huge crowds waiting to get in on social media

'I’m thankful for the security guards who helped get us out of there. I know others weren’t as fortunate. Even once at our seats, there were several Colombian fans in our row and surrounding section.

'None of them had tickets & were finally expelled after myself and others pleaded with the underpaid/overworked security to have the police check tickets. Also, the gate we waited an hour out was bumrushed immediately as we were escorted out of there, people shoving guards out of the way and breaking the barricades in front of us. I can’t help but think about how we were almost caught in that and how glad I am I stayed put.

'Sooo if the internet can do its thing, I would love to find these guys who helped me barricade Kenna and keep her safe for an hour - they’re from Wyoming, and said this was their first “huge game” like this. Thank you thank you, I hope they ended up having fun!'.

The game between Argentina and Colombia was delayed by more than an hour because of the crowd issues. Fans without tickets were let in to ease the congestion but then they flooded the stadium with no seats available.

Mayor Levine Cava insists they will now carry out a 'full review' of the incident after an embarrassing episode for both the city of Miami and the stadium.

Karalyn revealed she caught a girl who fainted and splashed water over her to cool her down

A statement from mayor Levine Cava and chief public safety officer James Reyes read: 'We are outraged by the unprecedented events at tonight's Copa America finals.

'The Copa America final is organized by CONMEBOL, and Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) provides security support along with other law enforcement agencies.

'Tonight MDPD assigned over 550 officers to the stadium, including our Priority Response Team, and is utilizing all possible resources to continue to ensure a safe experience for all attendees. In addition, MDPD brought in more personnel from other jurisdictions to support everyone's safety and wellbeing.

'Our top priority must be the safety and security of all our residents and visitors, and we urge everyone in attendance at tonight's game to abide by all directives from law enforcement and security personnel for the safety of all attendees.

'We have also received a security briefing from stadium operations regarding the plan to support fans in safely exiting after the game tonight, and we continue to urge all attendees to pay close attention to all information and updates from law enforcement and stadium staff.

'Let's be clear: This situation should never have taken place and cannot happen again. 

'We will work with stadium leadership to ensure that a full review of tonight's events takes place immediately to evaluate the full chain of events, in order to put in place needed protocols and policies for all future games.'

A handful of people could be seen receiving medical treatment and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat. 

Terrifying crowd issues that saw fans breaching security gates led to the game being delayed

Panicked fans try to gain entry into the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami amid Sunday's chaos

Officers were able to push the crowd behind the gates and lock down the entrance so that no one could get inside, although plenty of fans with tickets had already made it to their seats before then.

Security initially appeared to open gates slightly to allow only a handful a fans in at a time, while other angry attendees pushed against the railings.

After reclosing the gates, security began letting fans in slowly around 8:10pm, with the new kickoff time set for 9:15pm but the commotion did not stop. 

Fans again broke through the railings, so many filing in that security scanners rocked back and forth from the force.

Fans wearing gear from both teams started running in multiple directions, some carrying children on their shoulders. Tickets were not being scanned and few police officers or stadium officials could be seen in the sea of people.

Some fans started climbing over fences to get in. Three police officers were seen placing handcuffs on a fan with a Colombia flag on a ramp that leads to the stadium's seats.

The commotion ahead of the final was the culmination of a series of issues throughout the 32-match tournament, from complaints about the playing surfaces to criticisms of officials and concerns about player safety.