Is Boston ready for the 2026 World Cup?
Writer: Pablo Marquez
August 2025 — Boston is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup with major efforts underway, including renovations at Gillette Stadium, improvements in transportation infrastructure, and initiatives to involve the local community. While certain details, such as security measures and FanFest plans, are still being finalized, the overall atmosphere in the city is one of excitement and strong commitment to hosting a successful tournament.
“This is the greatest sports city in America, the greatest sports city in the world,” said Gov. Maura Healey at a FIFA event this summer. “The places and spaces that are going to be built out for them will live on long after the World Cup is gone.”
In August, Healey’s office filed for an additional $20 million to support preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Boston area as part of a $2.45 billion supplemental budget proposal. The funding allocation is aimed at a range of initiatives, from infrastructure improvements to public safety measures, and is expected to provide a significant boost to the local tourism economy as the tournament approaches.
Preparations are expected to cost between $75 million and $100 million, while the federal government has set aside $625 million for security across all U.S. venues, according to local radio station 105.7 WROR.
Gillette Stadium, the venue for Boston’s FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, is undergoing significant renovations to enhance the fan experience. Upgrades include the installation of the largest outdoor high-definition video board in the country, expanded hospitality areas, and improved connectivity throughout the facility. It will host a total of seven matches during the tournament, including two knockout-stage games and one high-profile quarter-final.
To handle the millions of expected visitors, the MBTA is enhancing access to and from Gillette Stadium with a new train station in Foxborough and expanded transit options to manage the surge in game-day travel.
“The MBTA moves thousands of people across the region every day. What sets the World Cup apart is the concentration of that travel demand to a single destination, such as Foxboro Station, for each match. The proximity of the championship match is critical and important to those who most likely will be traveling within the greater Northeast region for these games. We expect to have a large fan population here during the championship match because tickets obviously are quite limited,” said Erika Mazza, the MBTA’s Chief Enterprise Development Officer, in a statement issued by an agency spokesperson.
A Capability Readiness and Development Work Group is leading efforts to enhance preparedness through specialized training and exercises. At the same time, Boston is prioritizing community engagement to help local businesses and residents get ready for the anticipated influx in visitors. In support of these efforts, a volunteer program was launched to recruit approximately 3,000 volunteers for the city’s events.
“Supporters said it could be a great opportunity for Boston to shine, to show Boston as a world class city. The negative side of it was kind of what you would expect. Traffic, too many people, too many tourists. A lot of people are skeptical that the MBTA would be able to get people from some of these fan exposition events in Boston proper down to Foxboro,” expressed Mike Deehan of Axios Boston.
Some residents have raised concerns about increased traffic, large crowds, and whether public transportation can effectively manage the surge in visitors. Ongoing discussions are also addressing security protocols and potential challenges related to immigration and customs processes.
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