Overview
- The Select Board voted 5-0 on March 17 to issue the entertainment license required for FIFA to stage seven games at Gillette.
- The town says taxpayers will pay nothing, with Boston Soccer 2026 advancing funds and Kraft Sports + Entertainment guaranteeing access to money.
- Staffing invoices will be reimbursed within one business day and about $1.5 million is already available for police equipment purchases.
- Department of Homeland Security grants expected to reimburse host-city security costs remain delayed, prompting the private bridge funding.
- Gillette’s first World Cup match is June 13 and its final is a July 9 quarter-final, with local security and transit plans prepared to support the events.