Town officials in Foxboro, Massachusetts, refused to grant an entertainment license for FIFA World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium until organizers guarantee nearly $8 million in security funding. The select board expressed frustration during a meeting on February 18, 2026, highlighting the town's limited budget and the event's high security demands. Organizers from the Boston 2026 Host Committee stated that federal grants are expected soon to cover the costs.
The Foxboro Select Board met on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, to discuss preparations for hosting seven FIFA World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium, which will be renamed Boston Stadium for the tournament. The games, scheduled from June 13 to July 9, 2026, include five group-stage matches and two knockout rounds, one of which is a quarter-final. Specific fixtures mentioned are England versus Ghana on June 23, and Scotland against Haiti and Morocco.
Board members emphasized the financial strain on the small town of 18,000 residents, stating that the required $7.8 million for security—covering police, traffic management, and equipment—represents nearly 10% of the annual budget. They cannot afford to front the costs while awaiting reimbursement from federal grants. 'We’re not prepared to issue this license unless everything is in place,' said Select Board Vice Chair Stephanie McGowan. 'This money is almost 10% of our whole entire budget for a year, so there’s no way that we can fund it or issue a license without knowing.'
Representatives from the Boston 2026 Host Committee and FIFA attended but deferred responsibility for funding. Boston 2026 Chair Mike Loynd explained that a White House task force is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to allocate from a $625 million federal pool, with Massachusetts expecting over $47 million. However, a recent government funding lapse has shut down Homeland Security, potentially delaying the process. FIFA's Kevin Clark noted that financial agreements are handled by the host city and stadium.
Select Board member Mark Elfman voiced disbelief: 'I’ve got to be honest with you, it baffles my mind that you guys are sitting here in front of me right now and we still have no idea where this money is coming from.' Chairman Bill Yukna compared the event to 'seven Super Bowls' over 39 days, classifying it as a SEAR 1 high-risk gathering. The Kraft Group, which operates the stadium on town-owned land, is not covering costs but is discussing partial contributions reimbursable by grants.
The board set March 17, 2026, as the license deadline and plans another meeting on March 3. Governor Maura Healey expressed confidence that the issue will resolve, stating, 'This is going to go forward. It’s gonna be great.' Despite tensions, organizers project over $1 billion in economic impact for the region, including $100 million in tax revenue and 9,000 jobs. The state has allocated $10 million for related support, and $11 million in grants were awarded to local police for anti-drone measures.
