Foxborough stands firm in World Cup security funding disagreement.

The town of Foxborough in Massachusetts has stated it will not relent on its demands for upfront payment of security funds for the World Cup, openly contesting any suggestion that an agreement has been reached with the soccer tournament organizers as a licensing vote on March 17 approaches.

Foxborough’s firm position, reiterated in a statement sent to ESPN, represents the latest chapter in a lengthy public conflict between a small New England community and a major global soccer entity, its affiliated host committee, and a company led by Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.

In a meeting on March 3, the Foxborough select board, which will decide on granting a license to FIFA for seven World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium, engaged in a debate with two attorneys from the host committee Boston Soccer 2026 regarding the payment of millions in security funds.

During this meeting, the host committee indicated for the first time that it would cover all costs, if necessary, within two business days of receiving an invoice. The Kraft Group, which owns the stadium and routinely applies for a similar license for Patriots games, would cover any funding shortfall. “If you don’t get paid, you can terminate the license,” stated host committee lawyer Gary Ronan. “The next soccer game doesn’t happen.”

However, board members promptly questioned the host committee about the procurement of security materials and the timeline for their availability, as specified by Foxborough’s police and fire chiefs.

On March 6, board chair Bill Yukna issued a statement clarifying that no agreement had been finalized. “What they have presented is essentially an agreement with themselves, but such terms do not meet the town’s requirements and will not adequately address the Town’s needs for providing security services for these events,” the statement read.

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In response to a follow-up inquiry from ESPN, the board sent a second statement on March 6 expressing that it was “shocked and dismayed” by comments made to the media by the Kraft Group and other event organizers implying that an agreement with the town had been established. “Any such statement is categorically false,” the board’s statement asserted.

It continued: “The possibility that these entities may have misjudged the costs associated with hosting the World Cup does not justify compromising on event security. The Town cannot and will not cover the Kraft Group’s losses at the expense of public safety.”

Organizers seemed perplexed, unable to clarify the origin of the town’s statements. In a statement to ESPN later on March 6, the Kraft Group remarked: “At no point in this process has the Kraft Group claimed to have reached an agreement with the Town of Foxborough.”

The Kraft Group emphasized that it was neither the applicant for the license nor the host committee, but it has made a “good faith effort” to collaborate with the town in preparation for a “historic event.”

“When they encountered a liquidity issue, we resolved it. When they requested equipment, we provided support,” the statement noted. “We are deeply disappointed that the town has seemingly reached a conclusion unilaterally without the platform of a public hearing … and would like to understand what the town requires at this stage to achieve a ‘yes.’

Town manager Paige Duncan did not respond to multiple ESPN requests for clarification regarding the statements the town attributed to the Kraft Group in the media.

When contacted by phone, board member Stephanie McGowan referenced Duncan’s statement and indicated she does not have an update on the funding issues because that would necessitate obtaining clarification from other board members, and the state’s open meetings law prohibits such discussions outside of scheduled public meetings and executive sessions.

“If the funds are available to us, we will issue the license,” she stated. “They are working diligently on both sides.” She expressed concern about the duration of the process and the potential burden on Foxborough taxpayers.

The extent of the divide between the two parties became evident during the March 3 meeting, where town officials insisted on full, immediate funding for security equipment purchases required well in advance of the seven matches to be held at Gillette Stadium.

Peter Tamm, an attorney for the host committee, countered with a slide presentation claiming to delineate the legal limits of the board’s authority regarding the license approval. He stated that while safety could be considered, the board could not deny the license based on “refusal to agree to advanced payment of anticipated costs.”

The town’s attorney disagreed. The meeting concluded shortly thereafter.

On March 5, organizers sent a letter to the town committing to cover public safety expenses within two business days of receiving an invoice. It also stated that the host committee had $2 million in an account and anticipated receiving at least $30 million more. Kraft Sports & Entertainment, a division of the Kraft Group, offered to support the funding if necessary, according to written documentation also provided.

The Kraft Group asserted in a statement that it was “committed to financially ensuring” that the town’s security requirements are met. It added that the World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium would not be “revenue generating events,” but would instead create “a significant amount of tourism and visibility for the state.”

Central to the disagreement is nearly $8 million that Foxborough seeks upfront to compensate its police. The town is unwilling to utilize taxpayer funds based on a promise of reimbursement.

Compounding the funding uncertainty is the status of $625 million that the federal government has allocated for the 11 host cities in the U.S. “to enhance security and preparedness.” However, the release of these funds has been stalled due to a congressional freeze on funding related to immigration enforcement.

Boston, located 25 miles from Foxborough, was designated a host city in June 2022. Foxborough police chief Michael A. Grace stated on March 3 that security planning has been ongoing for a year and a half. The public dispute regarding funding has intensified since January.

Gillette Stadium is set to host its first match on June 13, featuring Scotland against Haiti.