The town of Foxborough in Massachusetts, along with the Kraft Group and the host committee Boston Soccer 2026, have come to an agreement that will facilitate the approval of a license required to host seven World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium, concluding a lengthy dispute just days before a vote that could have determined their outcome.
At the heart of the contention was nearly $8 million that Foxborough had insisted for months it needed upfront to cover police expenses. The town was unwilling to allocate taxpayer funds based on a promise of reimbursement from federal funds that had been delayed.
However, a joint statement from the town, the host committee, and a company led by Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, indicated that all parties “have reached a collective understanding” that will enable the town and the host committee to finalize the details of an agreement. This will pave the way for FIFA’s license approval at the Foxborough select board’s upcoming meeting on March 17, which had been designated as the final deadline.
“As part of this arrangement, the Town of Foxborough will not incur any costs or financial burdens related to the FIFA World Cup,” the statement noted, “with Boston Soccer 2026 providing advance funding for security-related capital expenditures and the full extent of deployment deemed necessary by public safety officials to execute the event, supported by Kraft Sports + Entertainment.”
The statement expressed gratitude to several public officials, including Massachusetts governor Maura Healey, for their contributions to the development of the security plan.
Foxborough had maintained a firm position on the issue, escalating a standoff that became increasingly intense in recent days, placing a small New England town against a global soccer entity, its host-committee affiliate, and a company led by a prominent NFL owner.
During a meeting on March 3, the Foxborough select board engaged in a discussion with two attorneys from the host committee. At this meeting, the host committee indicated for the first time that it would cover security 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 receive payment, you can terminate the license,” host committee attorney Gary Ronan stated. “The next soccer game won’t take place.”
However, board members promptly questioned the host committee regarding the procurement of security materials and the timeline for having those materials ready, as specified by Foxborough’s police and fire chiefs.
Subsequently, 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 asserted.
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 suggesting that an agreement with the town had been reached.
“Any such statement is categorically false,” the board’s statement declared.
It further stated: “The possibility that these entities may have miscalculated 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 appeared perplexed, unable to clarify the source of the town’s statements. In a statement to ESPN later on March 6, the Kraft Group asserted: “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 faced 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 arrived at a conclusion unilaterally without the platform of a public hearing … and would like to understand what the town requires at this stage to reach 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.
The extent of the divide between the two parties became evident during a March 3 meeting in which town officials insisted on full, immediate funding for security equipment purchases necessary 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 outline the legal limits of the board’s authority concerning 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 costs within two business days of receiving an invoice. The letter also indicated 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 provided.
The Kraft Group stated that it was “committed to financially ensuring” that the town’s security needs 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.” 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 delayed due to a congressional freeze on funding related to immigration enforcement.
Boston, located 25 miles from Foxborough, was designated as 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 over funding has intensified since January.
Gillette Stadium is set to host its first match on June 13, featuring Scotland against Haiti.
