Gillette Stadium named as a host site for 2026 FIFA World Cup
FOXBORO, Mass. (WLNE) — Gillette Stadium will be a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement came Thursday that Gillette Stadium will be one of the 16 host venues for the worldwide competition.
https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1537550586928840711
It was the most competitive selection process in FIFA World Cup history. Boston was selected from a field of 22 finalist cities across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Gillette Stadium will serve as the venue for all matches hosted in Boston. FIFA evaluated each candidate host city based on city and state infrastructure, transportation, human rights, stadium infrastructure, fan fest locations, and training sites.
Boston will also host fan fests throughout the city, providing fans with or without match tickets the opportunity to engage and enjoy a festival atmosphere with fans from around the world.
Gillette will host four to six matches over the course of the tournament and city of Boston officials said they will be hosting fan fests throughout the city. The stadium will be renamed “Boston Stadium” for the World Cup’s duration.
Tickets will be available after the tournament draw is completed in late 2025.
“We are thrilled to welcome FIFA World Cup Soccer back to Massachusetts in 2026,” said Gov. Charlie Baker.
“The teams and their fans from around the world will be welcomed by the Commonwealth’s restaurants and attractions both in Boston and beyond,” added the governor. “We are appreciative of Robert Kraft for his efforts as Honorary Chair of the United Bid to help bring the World Cup back to the United States, as well as the Boston Soccer 2026 Committee for its tireless work to secure Boston as a host city.”
Research is projecting that the Greater Boston area will see about 450,000 visitors from across the globe and have a $500 million economic boost.
Providence will also reap the benefits of the international tournament coming to New England.
The World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for Rhode Island to be on an international stage. We will market Providence as a cost-effective, convenient and exciting place to stay and look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to Rhode Island,” said Kristen Adamo, President, and CEO of Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are co-host nations for the tournament that takes place every four years.
The 2026 edition will be the first to have 48 teams participate, past tournaments have been set at 32.
The United States is automatically entered into the tournament due to being a host nation.
The selection comes a day after it was announced Gillette Stadium will be hosting the 2023 Army-Navy game.
Boston was a host site last team the men’s World Cup was in the United States in 1994.
