Town leaders in Foxborough, Massachusetts, are withholding licenses for seven FIFA World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium until organizers guarantee coverage of nearly $8 million in security costs. The Select Board set a March 17 deadline amid concerns over burdening local taxpayers. The dispute persists despite federal funding approvals, with the tournament set to begin in June.
The seven FIFA World Cup matches scheduled for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, including a quarterfinal, face uncertainty due to a dispute over security expenses. The town's Select Board has refused to approve the necessary licenses without assurances that Foxborough will not bear the $7.8 million cost for securing the venue over 39 days, even though matches occur only on seven dates. The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
At a February 17 meeting, the board stood firm, expressing frustration with FIFA representatives who provided no funding commitments. Foxborough, with nearly 19,000 residents, views the expense as nearly 10 percent of its annual budget. "The money has to be here. We’re a small town," said Stephanie McGowan, vice-chair of the Select Board. "This is almost 10 percent of our whole annual budget. How does anybody expect that we would (lay out the money) for someone (FIFA) who’s coming into our town for 39 days, making all these demands, and then you guys go away? We cannot do that to our taxpayers. We would not be responsible."
Board member Mark Elfman echoed the sentiment: "I gotta be honest with you, it baffles my mind that you guys are sitting here in front of me right now and how we still have no idea where this money’s coming from."
Congress has allocated $625 million for security across 11 U.S. host cities, but distribution is delayed by a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA. The stadium, owned by The Kraft Group, typically requires upfront payments for events like New England Patriots and Revolution games, a precedent the board expects FIFA to follow. With the March 17 deadline approaching, preparations for the security plan remain stalled. Local voices, including Select Board vice chairman Bill Yunka and business owner Terri Lawton, have highlighted tensions involving Robert Kraft in securing the funding promise.
