The 2026 World Cup is just a few months away and town leaders in Foxborough, Massachusetts still have not approved an entertainment license for the seven games set to be held at Gillette Stadium.Citing an exorbitant security bill, Foxborough’s select board told the Boston Host committee to pony up the $7.8 million it will cost for event security.On Tuesday night, the select board met and said they will not sign off on the games until they know who is paying the security tab.”All we’re asking for is a collaboration that gets us the answer as to who,” said Bill Yunka, Vice Chairman of the Foxborough Select Board. “It’s obviously an NFL game on steroids because this is a SEAR 1 event, it’s the equivalent of 7 Super Bowls here and 39 days of coverage.”Town leaders said it shouldn’t be on Foxborough taxpayers to fund an international event. They also said security details need to be paid in a timely manner.”The money we’re asking for is strictly for security, number one,” said Foxborough Vice Chair Stephanie McGowan. “Number two, if it’s a misconception for anybody, the town… we’re going to get what we get for any event at that stadium. This is not a moneymaker for this town, in fact, it’s probably more of a headache than it’s worth.”The host committee is trying to smooth things over with town leaders as they wait for federal funding to be awarded.”We are not looking to put the town of Foxborough at risk,” said Mike Loynd of the FIFIA World Cup Boston Committee. “The stadium has stepped up to provide what we call a liquidity agreement which protects specifically all of the public safety payroll… so that’s a substantial amount of the federal grant and public safety cost.. what percentage? Probably 80% or more.”It’s not clear how much federal grant money is coming. The Kraft Group bid on the World Cup but is leasing the stadium to FIFA.At this point, the group has not formally committed to paying for security like it does for Patriots games.
The 2026 World Cup is just a few months away and town leaders in Foxborough, Massachusetts still have not approved an entertainment license for the seven games set to be held at Gillette Stadium.
Citing an exorbitant security bill, Foxborough’s select board told the Boston Host committee to pony up the $7.8 million it will cost for event security.
On Tuesday night, the select board met and said they will not sign off on the games until they know who is paying the security tab.
“All we’re asking for is a collaboration that gets us the answer as to who,” said Bill Yunka, Vice Chairman of the Foxborough Select Board. “It’s obviously an NFL game on steroids because this is a SEAR 1 event, it’s the equivalent of 7 Super Bowls here and 39 days of coverage.”
Town leaders said it shouldn’t be on Foxborough taxpayers to fund an international event. They also said security details need to be paid in a timely manner.
“The money we’re asking for is strictly for security, number one,” said Foxborough Vice Chair Stephanie McGowan. “Number two, if it’s a misconception for anybody, the town… we’re going to get what we get for any event at that stadium. This is not a moneymaker for this town, in fact, it’s probably more of a headache than it’s worth.”
The host committee is trying to smooth things over with town leaders as they wait for federal funding to be awarded.
“We are not looking to put the town of Foxborough at risk,” said Mike Loynd of the FIFIA World Cup Boston Committee. “The stadium has stepped up to provide what we call a liquidity agreement which protects specifically all of the public safety payroll… so that’s a substantial amount of the federal grant and public safety cost.. what percentage? Probably 80% or more.”
It’s not clear how much federal grant money is coming.
The Kraft Group bid on the World Cup but is leasing the stadium to FIFA.
At this point, the group has not formally committed to paying for security like it does for Patriots games.
