Home Economy Economic Activity Kraft Group, Boston 2026 reach deal with Foxborough for World Cup security...

Kraft Group, Boston 2026 reach deal with Foxborough for World Cup security funding

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PBN Staff

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03/12/2026

1229632067 — KRAFT SPORTS and Boston 2026 have reached a deal with the town of Foxborough which will provide the $7.8 million that is needed for security during the seven World Cup matches scheduled at Gillette Stadium, pictured above, this summer. / PBN FILE PHOTO

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – An agreement has been reached on who will cover the estimated $7.8 million in security costs when Gillette Stadium hosts seven matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament this summer, multiple news outlets reported Thursday. Kraft Sports Entertainment, owner of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, and Boston 2026,

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – An agreement has been reached on who will cover the estimated $7.8 million in security costs when Gillette Stadium hosts seven matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament this summer, multiple news outlets reported Thursday. Kraft Sports Entertainment, owner of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, and Boston 2026, which is the regional World Cup organizer for the games at Gillette Stadium, announced on Wednesday night they reached a deal with the Foxborough Select Board over the security costs. With the deal in place, the select board can now issue an entertainment license for the matches being held in June and July. The panel previously refused to issue the permit because it didn’t want the town to be on the hook nor use public money for security funding. “As part of this arrangement, the Town of Foxboro will not incur any cost or financial burden related to the FIFA World Cup, with Boston Soccer 2026 providing advance funding for security-related capital expenditures and the full extent of deployment that public-safety officials have determined is needed to execute the event with Kraft Sports Entertainment’s backing,” according to a statement from Kraft Sports. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Boston Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2026, known as Boston 2026, told the board during a meeting on March 3 via its attorney that the nonprofit “will backstop” the funding and has a commitment from Gillette Stadium owner The Kraft Group to cover any shortfall, WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported. The World Cup matches will be played in host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July. In order for the matches to go forward, the host cities must approve an entertainment license authorizing FIFA, the international soccer governing body, to hold and manage them. The license covers safety, security and operational compliance. Foxborough officials previously applied for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover the public-safety costs. However, the $635 million the government has earmarked for the 11 American host cities has been delayed by the partial government shutdown, WPRI reported on March 3. The Foxborough board is scheduled to vote March 17. Select Board Chair Bill Yukna told MassLive that Foxborough officials expect that any lingering issues will be settled before the deadline. “We look forward to a very successful and safe World Cup event,” he said. The first match at Gillette Stadium, which will be known as Boston Stadium throughout the tournament, is scheduled for June 13 between Scotland and Haiti.