The pitch is set, ads are rolling out, tickets are selling fast. A summer of soccer is upon Boston.
The FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest sports tournament, returns to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. Boston is one of 16 host cities across North America.
Local and state officials say they expect as many as two million soccer fans to descend on Eastern Massachusetts for seven games at Gillette Stadium — renamed Boston Stadium for the tournament. Whether or not you land a ticket to any of the matches, there are plenty of ways to watch the sport’s greatest players and celebrate your team.
Here’s everything you need to know about the World Cup in Boston.
What are the Boston World Cup matches?
The monthlong tournament kicks off in Mexico City on June 11. Two days later, Haiti and Scotland will play the first match in Boston.
Altogether, at least eight different national teams will play at Gillette, including top-10 ranked squads France, England and Morocco. Boston will host five group play matches, one in the Round of 32 and another in the quarterfinals.
- Saturday, June 13 at 9 p.m. ET — Haiti vs. Scotland
- Tuesday, June 16 at 6 p.m. ET — Iraq vs. Norway
- Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. ET — Scotland vs. Morocco
- Tuesday, June 23 at 4 p.m. ET — England vs. Ghana
- Friday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET — France vs. Norway
- Monday, June 29 at 4:30 p.m. ET — Round of 32 match
- Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. ET — Quarterfinals match
How to get to the stadium
Although the games will be played at “Boston Stadium,” the stadium isn’t actually in the city of Boston. It’s in the town of Foxborough, which is about 30 miles from Boston. And getting there will cost you, regardless of the mode of travel.
Boston’s transit agency, the MBTA, is charging $80 for round-trip commuter rail trains from Boston’s South Station to Foxboro Station on game days. The trains will run about every 15 minutes. Tickets are limited, so if you haven’t purchased any yet, you should probably do so soon.
If you prefer not to take the train, round-trip express buses between Boston and the stadium will be $95. Despite pushback on the high bus and train prices, don’t expect them to come down like they did recently in New York City.
You can also drive yourself, but, obviously, that means figuring out parking. Local organizers say FIFA currently has 5,000 parking spots available for $175 each, but the soccer body could add many more. Spaces are also available to purchase in nearby lots and along Route 1 near the stadium.
Who’s to say you won’t figure out another way to get to and from the stadium. These Scotland fans did.
How to buy tickets to the games
It’s not too late to snag tickets to the games at Gillette, but you will almost certainly have to splurge. Prices are changing all the time, but depending on the match, tickets range from $400 to over $4,000. Tickets for Iraq vs. Norway have so far been the most affordable of the games in Boston.
You can find tickets via FIFA’s official ticket portal or resale websites like StubHub and Ticketmaster.
Where else to watch the Boston World Cup matches with fans
There’s no shortage of soccer bars and watch parties around Greater Boston to enjoy the games with other fans. City Hall Plaza in Boston will host the official FIFA Fan Festival from June 12 through June 27. The festival will be free and include food, music and — obviously — a massive screen showing matches. Fans who want to go will need to register in advance.
Other cities across Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Chelsea, Lowell and Worcester, are also planning their own watch parties.
How to watch the games on TV
If you can’t make a watch party — or prefer to nervously watch your squad from your own home — FOX has the broadcast rights for all 104 World Cup matches. A majority of the games will air on the FOX network. You can find the rest on FS1.
Every match will also be available on FOX One, FOX’s streaming platform.
What else to know about the World Cup in Boston
Tailgating: FIFA has reversed its anti-tailgating stance. Still, organizers say only fans with valid match tickets will be allowed to tailgate at Gillette Stadium. Stadium staff will check fans for tickets multiple times, including at least once inside the parking lot.
Late-night travels in Boston: The first match between Haiti and Scotland on June 13 isn’t expected to end until around 11:30 p.m. Boston transit officials say they’ll cater to the late finish by extending service on all subway and train lines until 4 a.m. the next day. The last commuter rail train will leave for Boston’s transit hub South Station three and a half hours after the match concludes.
The French are coming! If you’re a diehard fan of the French national team, you’re probably aware that soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé and the rest of his squad will make the Boston area their official basecamp throughout the World Cup. The French team, one of the favorites to win the tournament, will train at Bentley University in Waltham.
Hosting Ghana fans: Worcester — Massachusetts’ second largest city — has declared itself an official host city for Ghana fans. Worcester has a large Ghanaian diaspora, and city officials have said they want to cater to fans with watch parties, interfaith activities and other events. The Ghana squad has said its base camp will be about an hour away in Providence, Rhode Island.
