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Light rain, with a high of 78. Sunset is at 8:25 p.m.
I don’t know about you, but I have been devouring the World Cup this time around. I’m not sure if it’s my background as a competitive athlete (back-to-back state champs in soccer and tennis, baby! …like I said, I’m competitive…), or the sheer volume of matches to take in (this year’s tournament expanded from 32 to a record 48 teams) or the hooting and hollering coming through my windows every day from the Scottish fans staying in the house up the street. (Seriously. At all hours). And then of course there is the distinct pleasure of following the ins, outs and all the action because it’s what I do for a living as our newsroom’s managing editor. But I am here for it!
And so, as a fan, athlete and mom I took great personal joy listening to this week’s Joy Beat on All Things Considered, during which host Arun Rath spoke with Sylviane Jeane Baptiste, the child enrichment and youth empowerment manager at the Boston-based nonprofit Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI). She helped distribute more than 1,100 free FIFA World Cup tickets donated by Airbnb, giving kids around the state a chance to attend a game. It was a reminder, to me, of the transformative, unifying power of sports — and how important it is for our biggest and smallest fans to have access.
More on that conversation shortly, but first, the news:
Four Things to Know
1. The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to end legal protections for immigrants fleeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria, exposing hundreds of thousands to potential deportation. More than 19,000 Haitians in Massachusetts have temporary protected status — and many had hoped for a favorable ruling from the court.
2. More than 140,000 Massachusetts residents will get some surprising good news this week — the elimination of part or all of their medical debt. Three organizations announced a massive purchase of debt worth $170 million on Thursday, which they say represents the “largest-ever” debt relief effort in Massachusetts.
3. Dispensary owners, health care workers and activists gathered on the steps of the Massachusetts State House yesterday, railing against a ballot question that would roll back legal marijuana. Speakers and attendees, organized by a committee called Stop the Repeal, pointed to the economic costs of eliminating what the Cannabis Control Commission calls a $1.65 billion marijuana industry in Massachusetts.
4. People who use rideshare apps in Boston can now call a licensed taxi instead. Under the one-year pilot program announced by Mayor Michelle Wu earlier this week, customers who get a taxi through Uber or Lyft will still lock in the fare upfront on their phone instead of the typical taxi fare structure. Taxi drivers are seeing the new option as a major boost. But rideshare drivers are more mixed — some optimistic, some concerned.
For Boston youth, a World Cup dream turns into an epic reality
Outside of the booming nightlife and passionate community the World Cup has sparked in Boston, hundreds of kids are getting a piece of this summer’s sports frenzy. This week’s Joy Beat celebrates an unforgettable soccer tournament as a culturally uplifting opportunity for some of the Bay State’s youngest fans.
A donation of more than 1,100 free FIFA World Cup tickets from Airbnb has given Massachusetts children the chance to attend the world’s most popular sporting event. The Boston-based nonprofit Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI), along with several other organizations, helped distribute the tickets.
Sylviane Jeane Baptiste, the child enrichment and Youth empowerment manager at IFSI, joined GBH’s All Things Considered host Arun Rath to share more about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young people. Listen to their conversation.
Dig Deeper:
At this local barbershop, the World Cup is a celebration of two homelands
Ghanaians across Massachusetts celebrate Ghana’s draw against England in the World Cup
2026 World Cup in Boston: What to know and how to watch
GBH Daily
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