Two YouTubers facing felony charges after allegedly attempting to sneak into World Cup match
Two YouTubers are facing felony charges after allegedly attempting to sneak Portugal versus Colombia World Cup match in Miami.
Argentina content creators Beni Marmol, 20, and Pato Perotta, 26, arrived at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, without tickets.
However, they were able to make their way through ‘three layers of security’ using expired credentials and made it into the ground, Miami-Dade Sheriffs told WPLG.
When questioned by cops, Marmol reportedly admitted that he was an influencer hoping to ‘stream the game’, while Perotta claimed that he had been ‘hired by a media company to review the event and has credentials but they were from a previous event’, according to his arrest report.
Advert
Both men were arrested on charges of interference with a sporting or entertainment event, which has a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison as well as a fine of up to $5,000.
The YouTubers, who each have thousands of followers, were held at a local jail on a bond of $2,500.
Their manager Walter Costabel told Todo Noticias that the pair ‘are fine’ and have posted bail for their release.
He told the outlet ‘they’re not being deported’ but added: “They simply cannot be near the stadiums where the World Cup matches are being played.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a total of 16 people were arrested at the stadium on Saturday.
The 2026 World Cup has sparked plenty of big talking points both on and off the pitch.
We’ve seen the usual dramatic upsets, colourful fans and sensational stories, like Tunisia's manager being sacked after just one game, as well as new rules, like the highly controversial enforced hydration breaks.
Nonetheless, it seems the USA has caught a case of football fever and is already considering hosting another World Cup tournament in the next 12 years.
While the next few years are locked in when it comes to host countries, the North America could hold the event again in 2038.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup is highly confident the US is capable of hosting the tournament again very soon. Even if it ends up being even bigger.
He said: "This is what I've spoken about with President Trump, with so many of our cabinet secretaries, I think there's no better country that's positioned to host a World Cup than the United States, and I think we're seeing that on social media.
"I think we're seeing that with all the fans that may be interacting with the US for the first time, or the first time in a long time, that the US truly is extremely welcoming, that we have such an incredible infrastructure.
"We have the stadiums built, so for the US, compared to other host nations, where it costs tens and tens of billions of dollars, you know, it cost us a couple billion.
"When you think that this World Cup may at some point expand out to 64 teams, I think the United States can handle it."
Topics: World Cup
Claire Reid