Overview
- Town officials set a March 17 deadline to issue the entertainment licence, saying they will not proceed without guaranteed repayment.
- Seven matches at Gillette Stadium are affected, including England vs Ghana, two Scotland fixtures and a quarter‑final.
- Local leaders say the small town cannot front the costs for what they describe as a security footprint equivalent to seven Super Bowls across 39 days.
- Federal support remains uncertain as grant funding typically arrives via reimbursement and a recent Homeland Security funding lapse has complicated timing; a separate £8.15m drone‑mitigation grant does not cover broader needs.
- The New York/New Jersey Liberty State Park Fan Fest has been cancelled and replaced by a £3.7m statewide program of smaller events, adding to changes fans must navigate.