In a follow-up to last month's standoff, the Foxboro Select Board on March 4 rejected new proposals from Boston Soccer 2026 to resolve a $7.8 million security funding dispute for World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium. The board reiterated its March 17 deadline for firm commitments, warning that the seven games risk cancellation without them.
The March 4 meeting came after the Select Board's February 18 decision to withhold the entertainment license until funding for police and public safety—equivalent to about 10% of the town's annual budget—is secured upfront. With the tournament starting June 11 (99 days away), board members expressed ongoing frustration over delays in securing equipment identified over a year ago.
Attorneys for Boston Soccer 2026, including Peter Tamm and Gary Ronan from Goulston & Storrs, proposed that the host committee backstop the funds, backed by a commitment letter from Kraft Sports and Entertainment for shortfalls. They offered two-business-day invoice payments and a license clause for revocation on late payments but rejected the board's demand for immediate security equipment procurement over a June 1 timeline.
Select Board member Dr. Mark Elfman criticized the lack of progress: “I was expecting the same bulls— that we’d gotten in the last two or three months. They didn’t give us any more information. It’s sad. It should have been done months ago.” Chair Bill Yukna prioritized taxpayers: “I’m sympathetic to the citizens and taxpayers in the town of Foxboro. That’s what we are elected to represent.”
Foxboro Police Chief Michael Grace stressed urgency: “We are 99 or 100 days away from hosting the largest sporting event in the world and can’t seem to find necessary funding for necessary equipment.” Town Manager Paige Duncan noted the challenging context: “This is building a plan in an extremely scary world, getting scarier by the weekend.”
Host committee president Mike Loynd expressed confidence: “Boston Soccer 2026 is absolutely in lockstep with the requirements... with the support of KSE, we are very confident we can meet the financial requirements.” Federal funding for Massachusetts remains delayed by a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Without resolution by March 17, the board may deny the license on public safety grounds, potentially forcing relocation of the games.
