Foxborough town officials deny there's a deal in place over World Cup security costs – WBUR

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Foxborough officials on Friday said it was “categorically false” that they had a deal in place with World Cup organizers over security costs for the upcoming matches at Gillette Stadium.
World Cup host committee Boston ’26, and stadium owner Kraft Sports and Entertainment, on Thursday sent letters to the town’s select board aimed at quelling anxieties over covering nearly $8 million in security costs. The letters followed verbal commitments by the groups at a public meeting Tuesday.
The letter from Boston ‘26 and FIFA World Cup 2026 confirmed the host committee does not currently have the money to completely cover the town’s security costs — it had $2 million in its bank accounts, but claimed “it will receive at least an additional $30 million from state and federal funding and commercial activities,” making it “well capitalized to pay all amounts as they come due in connection with hosting World Cup Events.”
The Krafts, meanwhile, pledged to put up $1.5 million to aid the host committee with security and operational costs.
Members of the Foxborough Select Board have said they will not issue FIFA a license for the World Cup events until they have assurances the costs of police, emergency workers and security vehicles and equipment are fully covered.
“While the total cost for such services is a microscopic fraction of the revenue that the events will generate, the Town has been met, at every turn, with resistance from the Kraft Group and other event organizers,” the board said in a statement to WBUR.
“That such entities may have miscalculated the cost of hosting the World Cup is not a reason to compromise on event security,” the statement continued. “The Town cannot and will not finance the Kraft Group’s losses by sacrificing public safety.”
Kraft Sports and Entertainment on Thursday released a statement saying the World Cup would not be a money maker for them. It said the organization was “happy” to host the games “on behalf of our state and our region” even though the tournament would shut down normal operations for two months.
“Unlike games and concerts, World Cup matches are not revenue generating events for the stadium, but they do generate a significant amount of tourism and visibility for the state,” the statement said.
Planning and money issues around the World Cup — which organizers have said should draw some 2 million visitors to the Boston area — have been dragging on for months.
Massachusetts applied for $46 million from a $625 million federal fund established to support host states and cities. But the agency in charge of disbursing those funds, FEMA, is currently shuttered due to a partial government shutdown. It’s unclear when the state will receive those funds, or if it will receive the full amount requested.
Gov. Maura Healey has repeatedly said she’s certain the funding will come through in the end.
The Krafts’ financial commitment letter this week said the group will provide advance payments to Boston ‘26 from March 5 until July 31 for a total amount that should not exceed $1,512,490.
The Boston ‘26 letter states that, based on its current funds and the expected federal funds along with the Kraft money, “there can be no doubt” the organization “has the means to pay all amounts as they come due in connection with hosting World Cup Events.”
Foxborough officials are still ironing out control of security needs with the organizing committee.
In its letter, Boston ‘26 said it would purchase “certain items” on the equipment list and “borrow or lease” other items on the list from third parties for the town’s use during World Cup matches.
Select Board Chair Bill Yukna expressed frustration at the idea “a third party wants to be involved with the acquisition, implementation and deployment of this stuff,” during a public meeting earlier this week.
“That’s not at all what we intend, and that’s not what we’re going to allow,” he said.
The deadline for the town of Foxborough to issue the license is March 17, the date of the next select board meeting.
Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez is a transportation reporter for WBUR.
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