By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
With less than 100 days until the World Cup is set to arrive at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro officials are questioning whether the town can move forward without firm financial guarantees — even if that means canceling its role as a 2026 FIFA host site.
At a tense March 3 Select Board meeting, town leaders pressed FIFA representatives and attorneys for assurances that Foxboro taxpayers will not be left covering millions of dollars in public safety costs tied to the tournament.
The dispute centers on roughly $7.8 million in anticipated security expenses for seven World Cup matches scheduled between June 13 and July 9. While federal funding has been allocated nationally to assist U.S. host cities with these costs, Foxboro officials have said the timeline for receiving those funds remains uncertain.
Who pays?
Representatives from Boston Soccer 2026 — the nonprofit host committee supporting FIFA’s Boston-area matches — told the board that FIFA is the official license applicant, as it will have exclusive control of Gillette Stadium during the tournament period. Boston Soccer 2026 serves as a local operating partner coordinating with state and municipal agencies, they said.
Gary Ronan, an attorney representing Boston Soccer 2026, said it is prepared to “backstop” all public safety costs identified by Foxboro’s police and fire chiefs if federal grant funds are delayed.
According to Ronan, the nonprofit currently has substantial funds available and has secured a financial commitment from Kraft Sports & Entertainment to cover any shortfall. He said Boston Soccer 2026 would pay town invoices within two business days — far faster than typical post-event reimbursements.
“If you don’t get paid, you can terminate the license,” Ronan told the board, arguing that Foxboro would retain ultimate control of the license.
But Select Board members pushed back, saying assurances must be concrete and timely — not contingent on future reimbursements.
Equipment timeline sparks frustration
A major point of contention was the timeline for acquiring specialized equipment requested by public safety officials.
Ronan said the host committee, Boston Soccer 2026 would guarantee all required equipment is available no later than June 1 — something Select Board Chair Bill Yukna called unacceptable.
“For us to do what the chiefs need takes time — installation, programming, training,” Yukna said. “Waiting until June 1 is unacceptable.”
Board members stressed that the determination of what equipment is necessary rests solely with Foxboro’s public safety leaders — not event organizers.
“We’ve been clear since the beginning,” Yukna said. “This is their determination. They need exactly what they need, and they need time to work with it.”
Board member Mark Elfman expressed frustration that discussions over equipment and funding have stretched on for months.
“The experts are telling you what they need,” Elfman said. “These guys need it now.”
‘Fund what needs to be funded’
Police Chief Michael Grace delivered one of the evening’s bluntest warnings, cautioning against deferring funding decisions and public safety equipment delivery until just weeks before the tournament.
“That strategy is a failed strategy,” Grace said. “We do not wait until the week before and force the board and public safety to cancel an event because we can’t settle matters now.”
Grace said planning has been underway for more than a year and a half, involving thousands of hours of coordination across multiple state and regional working groups. He emphasized that the requested staffing and equipment were developed in collaboration with FIFA and adjusted to reflect local conditions.
“We are 99 or 100 days away from hosting the largest sporting event in the world,” he said. “The solution is very simple — fund what needs to be funded, and this is over.”
Legal boundaries debated
At times, the discussion turned to the board’s authority under state licensing law.
Peter Tamm, a second attorney in attendance representing Boston Soccer 2026, argued that the board’s review should focus strictly on public safety, health and order — not broader municipal finance concerns. He noted that upfront payment had not been required with past stadium licenses.
Town Counsel Lisa Mead countered that the board has broad discretion to determine whether an applicant can meet public safety requirements and is not bound by prior practice.
“How they make that is fully at the discretion of the board,” said Mead, “And their past practice on what they accept and do not accept with regards to payment terms under prior license does not have an impact or restrain the board in any way.”
The public hearing and vote on the license is scheduled for March 17. Board members made clear that if satisfactory agreements are not in place by then, they are prepared to vote.
“This board does not want to deny this license,” member Stephanie McGowan said. “But we will if we have to.”