As Massachusetts gears up to host seven men’s World Cup soccer matches next year, Democrats in the state Senate are proposing to spend $5 million to help fans make their way to and from the event.
The money, contained in a broader $1.3 billion spending bill set for debate next Thursday, would support traffic and transportation improvements around Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, where the games will be played.
Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues, a Westport Democrat, likened the event to hosting seven Super Bowls.
“This isn’t just a Patriots game,” he said. “These are World Cup matches. These are going to be attended by fans from around the world, many from Europe, who are accustomed to a much more robust public transportation system, especially to and from their football — soccer — facilities.”
Though the seven matches that start in June 2026 are located in Foxborough, Boston is officially considered the host and the venue will be temporarily dubbed Boston Stadium. Rodrigues said many fans are expected to stay in Boston and the immediate Boston area.
The Senate’s bill would direct the state Department of Transportation to “prioritize commuter rail infrastructure and service improvements to Foxborough that increase service capacity, frequency and reliability” in using the money.
The $5 million for World Cup-related transportation upgrades was not included in the House’s version of the bill that passed last month on a 140-14 vote. Negotiations between House and Senate lawmakers will ultimately decide whether that money makes it into a final compromise bill.
Both versions of the legislation spend surplus revenue already collected from the state’s extra tax on income over $1 million — which brought in much higher-than-expected revenues in its first two years.
Under the state Constitution, millionaire’s tax revenue can only be spent on education and transportation.
Rodrigues described the $5 million as “a reasonable down payment in addressing transportation concerns” around the World Cup.
Others in state government are also considering how else the state will need to prepare for the World Cup next summer.
The House this week passed an annual budget that would steer $150,000 to the organization Boston Scores “for the operations of the East Boston FC and Festival 2026 programming to celebrate housing the World Cup in the city of Boston.” Wrentham Republican Rep. Marcus Vaughn proposed an amendment, which did not make it into the final House budget, seeking a total of $1.5 million for World Cup tourism prep in Foxborough, Wrentham, Plainville, Walpole and Mansfield.
At a budget hearing earlier this year, state Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy told lawmakers that officials are preparing for “significant public safety concerns” around the World Cup, potential fan events in Boston and other related happenings. He said state law enforcement, as well as other host states and cities, will “absolutely need federal funding.”
“It is a major financial undertaking, that we are going to have significant issues if the federal government doesn’t hold true of what they’ve been representing to not just us, because it’s across the country,” Reidy said.
