2026 World Cup Guide: Boston
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Boston is set to be a key host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with six matches scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 22 miles southwest of downtown. The city is no stranger to major sporting events, from Red Sox World Series runs to the Boston Marathon, and its soccer roots run deeper than many realize. It was one of nine US cities to host World Cup matches in 1994 and is home to the New England Revolution, one of Major League Soccer’s original teams. The area’s international population, elite universities, and strong public transport system (anchored by the MBTA) helped secure its role as a 2026 host. Gillette Stadium is known for its high capacity, state-of-the-art turf, and easy access from both Boston and Providence.
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Capacity: 65,878
Match dates
Boston will host six matches at Gillette Stadium during the tournament, including five group-stage games and one knockout round match. Kickoff times are yet to be confirmed.
- Saturday, June 13, 2026: Group Stage, Match 10
- Wednesday, June 17, 2026: Group Stage, Match 26
- Saturday, June 20, 2026: Group Stage, Match 39
- Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Group Stage, Match 50
- Friday, June 26, 2026: Group Stage, Match 61
- Tuesday, July 1, 2026: Round of 32, Match 80
How to get to Gillette Stadium from Downtown Boston
Photo: Keith J Finks/Shutterstock
For major events at Gillette Stadium (including the Boston World Cup matches, most likely) the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or MBTA, and Keolis usually operate extra trains from Boston’s South Station to Foxboro Station, adjacent to the stadium. When available, this route is the quickest and most efficient way to reach the stadium. round trip tickets are usually $20, available on the mTicket app. Regular commuter rail tickets and passes are not valid on these special event trains, so make sure you buy the special event train pass. Normally, the MBTA provides regular weekday service to Foxboro Station via the Franklin/Foxboro Line, running 10 times per day between the Boston and Foxborough.
There’s plenty of parking around the stadium, but traffic can make the process of finding it slow and annoying. You can prepay for parking for $50 in a close spot, or take your chances in a garage nearby. As with most major stadiums in major cities, pop-up lots will probably be operating nearby willing to welcome people attending the Boston World Cup matches for an exorbitant fee. Ubers, Lyfts, and rideshares are readily available in Boston, and Gillette Stadium has a designated pick-up and drop-off area.
Official Fan Zones for the Boston World Cup
As of now, the official location for Boston’s FIFA Fan Festival during the 2026 World Cup hasn’t been made public, though potential sites under consideration include Boston Common and City Hall Plaza. The festival is expected to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026 and show all World Cup games, with free public viewing, live entertainment, food vendors, and cultural programming. The official announcement will be available online on the Boston World Cup website.
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