The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just months away from bringing a weekslong flood of soccer fans and more than $1 billion in economic impact to the region, and Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket is still looking to cash in.
While turf and size restrictions prevent the venue from hosting soccer matches or serving as a training base, stadium general manager Paul Byrne said FIFA’s strict approval processes have added a whole other layer of complexity when it comes to any other kind of World Cup-related programming.
“Many things with FIFA take time to get approved,” Byrne said. “But we’re working to make it happen and support the local soccer community as best we can.”
The cities of Providence and Pawtucket are pursuing official FIFA fan zones – dedicated, licensed spaces for public viewing – although those approvals are still pending.
Farouk Rajab, CEO and president of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, said events with more than 1,000 attendees or that charge admission must seek FIFA approval, a process he described as “bureaucratic, but necessary.”
Despite the hurdles, the 10,000-seat Centreville Bank Stadium – which opened less than a year ago – is still working to find ways to tap into that World Cup energy, Byrne said. The facility primarily serves as the home of the state’s only professional soccer team, Rhode Island FC.
For one, the venue is partnering with Pawtucket’s sizeable Cape Verdean community to explore World Cup-related programming, as the Cape Verde national soccer team prepares for group-stage matches elsewhere in the U.S. against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
Byrne even sees an opportunity to tie the World Cup into the stadium’s existing programming. Comedian Bill Burr headlines a June 12 show in the venue’s first major nonsporting event, which happens to coincide with the U.S. vs. Paraguay match in California.
The stadium is exploring the possibility of hosting a watch party following Burr’s show, according to Byrne.
“That’s pending FIFA approval, of course,” he said.
While Pawtucket and Providence aren’t official World Cup host cities, their close proximity to the match site, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., puts them well in the orbit of the region’s FIFA fan zone activity.
Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien said the excitement is building around the “Rhode Island Summer of Soccer” and the upcoming World Cup, although citywide event plans are still being finalized.
In the meantime, Byrne said the stadium hasn’t had a difficult time finding additional programming.
A combination of in-house management, outside partners such as the Rhode Island Sports Commission and an event sales manager keeps programming moving across collegiate, high school, corporate and nonprofit events, he said.
The stadium is largely booked through November with events beyond soccer, Byrne said.
Local nonprofits – including the Special Olympics Rhode Island Inc. – are using the stadium for galas and tournaments. The venue also hosts women’s professional rugby, lacrosse, Boston Legacy women’s soccer and five University of Rhode Island football home games.
Looking ahead, Centreville Bank Stadium is envisioned as a cornerstone of the larger Tidewater Landing development, including a pedestrian bridge, housing, retail and other amenities.
“I always say ... the plan is to make this like a mini–Patriot Place,” said Byrne, referring to the retail complex outside Gillette Stadium.
Still, Byrne noted the importance of taking advantage of World Cup programming.
“It’s a once-in-a-generation event for us,” he said. “Whatever way we can continue to support Rhode Island here, we will.”
