By Lenny Strauss
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
As summer approaches, so too does the FIFA World Cup, the highest echelon of international men’s soccer tournaments, contested by national team members of the FIFA soccer association. The tournament is set to take place from June 11th to July 19th, 2026, and is the 23rd event of its quadrennial history. Hosted by cities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, it is the first time the World Cup is to be hosted by three nations and has also expanded to include 48 teams for the first time ever. Of the eleven U.S. cities to host World Cup matches, Boston was one of the selected for the honor of hosting teams, and sports fans from around the world in Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, (to be renamed Boston Stadium for the event) home of the world champion New England Patriots. The stadium is set to host seven matches: five in the group stage and two knockout games between June 13 and July 9. The World Cup is considered a SEAR 1 event, the highest risk level for public gatherings in the country. Additionally, to accommodate FIFA requirements, a grass field was installed to replace the traditionally artificial turf used for the NFL's Patriots and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS).
While fan excitement continues to grow, Foxborough and the neighboring Walpole have been working to address the several logistical and security concerns that come with hosting an event of this magnitude. In late March, as a bit of a test run, Brazil and France met at Gillette in an international friendly, drawing a crowd of over 66,000. As exciting as the match was, with French star Kylian Mbappé leading France to a narrow victory, the game also tested the ability of stadium staff and the towns public services. The friendly had been dogged down by a simmering feud between the town of Foxborough and World Cup organizers over almost $8 million in security costs. The sides reached an agreement in which the organizing committee promised to make the payment in advance and the town approved the necessary entertainment license. Post match, the streets of Foxborough showed gridlocked traffic, with bumper-to-bumper vehicles stretching miles. One Foxborough resident saw drivers pulling over and using her yard as a bathroom. While transportation and town officials claim that preparations have been made to increase traffic flow and public transit options, one concern is with many fans coming from across the world, not everyone will know the best way to navigate or recognize the roads and may contribute to more congestion.
John Gulliver, MassDOT undersecretary of transportation stressed the unique nature of the World Cup. “FIFA is not your typical event,” he said. “This is like a Taylor Swift concert, a playoff series, the World Series and the Super Bowl all in one place.” Up the road from Gillette Stadium, the town of Walpole has been facing public safety and funding demands arising from the World Cup, with the first match just over a month away. Walpole’s state delegation appealed directly to the state, requesting approval of the town’s request for nearly $200,000 to support “essential public safety personnel,” as officials expect “significant spillover impacts” from the premier soccer tournament. As the Walpole/Foxborough town line on Route 1 is a handful of miles north of Gillette Stadium, officials are expecting increased traffic congestion and pedestrian activity to amount to “heightened public safety demands,” which initial results from last months friendly have already shown.
For the readers who are looking to attend a match, or even just commute around Foxborough or the neighboring Walpole, “The one thing you should take away from all this is to plan ahead. This is going to be a big event. We want to make sure it's the best experience for everyone who needs to use our roadways and public transportation getting to the game." Look for more about the World Cup and all the excitement to follow when the tournament kicks off on June 11th.
