The FIFA World Cup is one of the most-watched sports competitions on the planet, and this year, the U.S. is hosting it alongside Canada and Mexico.
Soccer fans are, of course, losing their minds with excitement. Regular residents driving to and from work, however, are dealing with rigid security measures in their neighborhoods, including police checkpoints and road closures.
One Miami Gardens resident (@jazzie6969), whose neighborhood sits near Hard Rock Stadium, showed what one of those security checkpoints looked like as she was trying to get home.
Her clip, which got over 226,900 views, shows her speaking with a police officer through her car window.
What Does A FIFA Security Checkpoint Look Like In Miami Gardens?
“MIAMI GARDENS POLICE IS STOPPING THE RESIDENTS FROM HAVING GUESTS DUE TO THE HARDROCK STADIUM HAVING THIS FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 EVENT,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay.
At the start of the clip, the woman films two police vehicles blocking the road in front of her.
“This the s— I’m talking about,” she says. “We can’t even get inside our own residence. Look at this.”
An officer then walks up to her car. “How you doing, you living here?” he asks.
The woman says yes, and the officer appears to ask for her ID.
She tells him that this is not the first time residents have had to deal with this because of events at the stadium.
“This is crazy,” she says. “Every time the Hard Rock have a event, we have to go through this as residents.”
The officer seems sympathetic.
“I know. I’m sorry,” he says.
He then explains that the issue is not necessarily the residents, but people trying to make money off stadium traffic.
“It’s not you,” he says. “It’s the other ones that are trying to make money off of it. That’s what’s causing the traffic jam.”
The woman asks whether the concern is people selling things near the event.
“So they don’t want the residents?…” she starts asking.
“Yeah, the illegal vending,” the officer says. “You live here. You’re good. I see your address. You go in.”
Then she asks what would happen if she had guests in her car.
“So what if I have company? Y’all gonna stop my company from coming?” she asks.
“They don’t want anyone,” the officer says.
The woman is shocked.
“This is so crazy,” she says.
Before letting her through, the officer tells her she can “creep behind that truck.”
As she drives forward, she keeps filming the blocked street.
“Look at this. This is some b——-,” she says. “Y’all see? What about the fence? I told y’all it was about the residents making money.”
What Does Miami Gardens Say About Road Closures?
The City of Miami Gardens issued a FIFA World Cup 2026 traffic advisory for match days at Hard Rock Stadium.
The advisory says residents can expect temporary road closures and traffic modifications around the stadium, and encourages them to plan ahead, carry their resident passes, and allow extra travel time.
The city also says residents and local businesses can display a Local Access Pass during Hard Rock Stadium events to bypass road closures. However, the pass is for residents and local businesses, and ID is required as proof of residency to pick one up.
There does not appear to be language in the advisory that states “no guests allowed.” But if roads are closed and officers are only allowing people with local access through, guests without a pass may have trouble getting into the neighborhood during those restricted periods.
The closures are also scheduled around the flow of match-day traffic. According to the city’s traffic advisory, Miami Gardens is closing or modifying traffic on four to six roads around Hard Rock Stadium.
Pre-event closures start at 5am and run until the parking lots open, four hours before kickoff. After the match starts, post-event closures begin about 1.5 hours later and usually last around two hours.
As for “illegal vendors” causing heavy traffic in the neighborhoods, the police officer is likely referring to residents who sell unofficial parking to match-goers.
According to a Miami Herald report, some residents right next to the stadium were still offering parking during the event.
Viewers Were Frustrated
In the comments section, viewers were frustrated on behalf of the resident.
“Is this legal??” one user asked.
According to Florida law, municipalities do have the authority to control traffic on streets when needed to “regulate, warn, or guide traffic.”
Another person who said they live nearby said the situation has been rough.
“I live in the area it’s terrible,” they wrote.
One commenter pointed out a practical issue for anyone whose ID does not match their current address.
“That’s crazy! My id don’t have my home address where I currently live so I’m stuck I’m assuming?” they asked.
Others said the stadium regularly creates problems for people trying to drive through the area.
“This stadium is such a big inconvenience all the time you can’t drive on 199 or exit off the turnpike at 199,” one user wrote.
@jazzie6969 🚨 Miami Gardens residents are being locked into our own neighborhoods because of the FIFA World Cup 2026 events at Hard Rock Stadium 🏟⚽️. Road closures, traffic, and restricted access are making everyday life a challenge for the people who actually live here. 🤬
BroBible has reached out to the City of Miami Gardens, Miami Gardens Police Department via email, and @jazzie6969 via TikTok messages for comment.