BOSTON — With Haiti set to play on the world’s biggest stage just miles from one of the largest Haitian communities in the United States, Massachusetts leaders declared the state “match-ready” for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unveiling a sweeping safety, transportation, and public-health operation and announcing 1,100 free tickets that will send Massachusetts children to games at Boston Stadium.
Governor Maura Healey, joined by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina K. Kwon, MBTA General Manager and Interim Transportation Secretary Phillip Eng, and a roster of state public safety, transportation, and public health officials, laid out the Commonwealth’s preparations at a press conference ahead of the tournament’s first match.
“Bottom line today is that Massachusetts is match-ready, match-ready for these games,” Healey said. “And we’re really excited that they are happening.”
Seven matches, eight nations, and a generational moment for Haiti
The Commonwealth will host seven World Cup matches running from Saturday, June 13, through July 9 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Healey said fans will arrive from around the world to support teams from “Scotland, Haiti, Norway, Iraq, Morocco, England, Ghana, plus four teams that will compete later on in the knockout stages.”
For the Haitian diaspora concentrated in Boston and across Massachusetts, Haiti’s presence on that list represents a once-in-a-generation moment, the kind of event that draws entire communities to stadiums and watch parties alike. Healey framed the tournament as a statewide opportunity that reaches well beyond the stadium gates.
“We have fans who live in Massachusetts who’ll be going to the games and to local watch parties across the state,” Healey said. “And we know we have so many coming in from not just around the country but around the globe to enjoy these games. These are major international events. We’re having them here to benefit our state.”
The governor urged residents to memorize the schedule, pointing to seven match dates: June 13, 16, 19, 23, 26, 29, and July 9.
1,100 free tickets for children, funded by Airbnb
The announcement that drew the most attention was Healey’s reveal that the state has secured 1,100 free World Cup tickets to be distributed to children across Massachusetts, an initiative she returned to repeatedly throughout the press conference.
“We have secured over 1,100 free tickets for the World Cup games that we’re going to be distributing to kids across Massachusetts,” Healey said. “We wanted to make sure that kids who may otherwise not be able to see these games and see some of their heroes play had an opportunity to get to Boston Stadium and actually see the games.”
The governor emphasized the rarity of the opportunity. “Most of us won’t be able to see a World Cup game in our lifetimes, let alone young people,” Healey said. “I’m really happy that those community organizations that serve kids, particularly a lot of kids in need, these kids are going to have an opportunity.”
The tickets were paid for by Airbnb, which Healey said purchased them at face value from FIFA. The 1,100 tickets are a total figure spread across all seven matches, not per match, the governor clarified in response to a reporter’s question.
Asked what Airbnb hoped to gain, Healey was candid. “We’ve seen a lot of corporations and companies want to participate in this,” she said. “I think Airbnb wanted to share in that experience, and I’m really grateful that they stepped up, especially to support our kids, especially to support young people who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to get to Boston Stadium to see a game like this.”
The tickets will be distributed through community organizations that serve young people, with the Boys and Girls Club among the designated recipients, and will cover all of the matches, Healey said.
$76 million in federal funding and a two-year planning effort
Driscoll described the operation as the product of a years-long partnership spanning state agencies, local governments, and federal partners.
“We are fired up to host the World Cup,” Driscoll said. “It’s been a lot of work going on over the last several months, and it’s all coming to fruition as we have our first game later this week. So when we say we’re ready, we mean we’re ready.”
The Lieutenant Governor said the state secured significant federal support to fund its preparations. “We’re able to secure $76 million in federal funding to make sure we can coordinate closely so we can plan for every potential scenario that could happen,” Driscoll said.
She drew on the Commonwealth’s track record with large-scale events. “Massachusetts is used to this,” she said. “Certainly, when we think about the Boston Marathon, the Army-Navy game, all the championship series we’ve had here that bring together lots of individuals. We are doubling down on that experience.”
Driscoll stressed that the tournament’s reach extends far beyond Foxborough, pointing to 90 watch parties planned across the state. “There are plenty in the greater Boston region. There are just as many happening in Western Mass and Central Mass,” she said. “So many communities are part of this effort. And frankly, more are joining every single day.”
She also confirmed that every community hosting a watch party had secured the necessary licensing. “All of our communities have their licenses and are ready for their watch parties,” Healey added.
A public safety operation “among the largest” in state history
Secretary Kwon described the World Cup as one of the most complex events the Commonwealth has ever prepared for, and detailed a planning structure built over two years.
“As Massachusetts prepares to welcome the world to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, our priority is clear: to support a safe, welcoming, well-coordinated experience,” Kwon said. “As one of the largest, most complex international events our Commonwealth has ever prepared for, an undertaking of this magnitude requires more than one agency, one city, or one discipline.”
Kwon said the effort had drawn together more than 70 organizations. “In the last two years, we’ve brought together more than 70 organizations in a structured planning process,” she said. “That effort has been supported by 14 planning groups focused on a variety of public safety mission areas, including emergency management, communications, intelligence sharing, transportation security, public information, health and medical services, fan festival planning, command and coordination, team movements, and stadium operations.”
She highlighted two public awareness campaigns — one to help residents and visitors stay informed, and another focused on a sober subject that often accompanies major international gatherings. The second campaign was designed “to raise awareness of the signs of human trafficking and how to report concerns or suspected exploitation,” Kwon said.
Her message to the public was direct. “Plan ahead and review the list of prohibited items. Stay aware of your surroundings and make sure your phone is charged and with emergency alerts enabled,” Kwon said. “Report suspicious activity or immediate danger by calling 911. Avoid ticket and merchandise scams.”
Kwon said it was the strength of the partnerships, more than the state’s experience, that gave her confidence. “In the weeks ahead, these seven matches will create a once-in-a-generation opportunity to welcome the world to Massachusetts and illustrate why there is no better place to host a large-scale event,” she said. “Together, we are ready to welcome the world safely and successfully.”
Transportation: the train is “the best option,” but plan ahead
Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng delivered the most detailed portion of the briefing, urging fans to take the commuter rail to Boston Stadium and to buy tickets early.
“For fans deciding how to get to Boston Stadium, the train, we believe, remains the best, easiest, and one of the most convenient options,” Eng said. “I know we’re beginning to see boarding groups sell out. So I would strongly encourage World Cup fans to purchase their tickets as soon as possible.”
Round-trip tickets to Boston Stadium cost $80 and can be purchased through the MBTA’s mTicket app, Eng said, with all-day travel across the entire commuter rail network included on match days. The MBTA will run 14 trains per match to and from the stadium, departing roughly 15 minutes apart from South Station.
Eng walked through the logistics for match-day passengers. “On the day of your match, passengers should stay in Dewey Square across the street from South Station until it’s time to get in line,” he said. The train queues will form on the Summer Street side of South Station, with staff on site to direct fans.
He was firm on the rules. “Riders must have a valid same-day World Cup match ticket to board. You will not be allowed on the train without a day match ticket,” Eng said. “Only wallets or small clear bags are permitted on the train, and items cannot be left on the train during the match.”
After each match, trains will begin leaving Foxboro station 30 minutes after the final whistle and run every 15 minutes. To support returning fans, the MBTA has extended subway service on match days — running until 4 a.m. on June 13 and until 2 a.m. on every other match day, Eng said.
In a detail aimed squarely at the international and immigrant fans the tournament will draw, Eng noted that multilingual staff would be stationed throughout the system. “They’ll be wearing pins to indicate that they’re multilingual,” he said. “We want to make sure that we really support this world-class experience.”
He repeated a core safety message several times. “Never walk near or along the tracks. It’s dangerous,” Eng said. “And finally, if you see something, say something. We can’t repeat that enough.”
For drivers, Eng described a MassDOT highway operation centered on Route 1, including a dynamic bus lane set up and broken down as needed, a heavy police presence, and wayfinding signs installed on Interstates 95 and 495 and on Route 1 using international symbols to guide unfamiliar visitors. He encouraged drivers to download the free Mass 511 app, which now includes travel-time widgets for major routes to Boston Stadium.
“Our message to the public is plain and simple. Plan ahead. Give extra time,” Eng said. “And avoid the stadium if you’re not going to the game at all in that area.”
Eng also reminded regular commuters that adjusted schedules are in effect from June 8 through July 12 across all commuter rail lines, and pointed to summer discounts including half-price monthly passes, free Fridays on the commuter rail, and a $1 weekend companion pass for monthly ticket holders.
Ticket sales strong as opening match nears sellout
Officials said ticket demand had been robust. The state reported that sales broke records on the first day and have climbed again in recent days, with 1,400 to 1,600 tickets sold per day over a recent weekend. More than 50 percent of tickets for the first five matches have sold, officials said, with the opening match roughly 80 percent sold and expected to sell out. The Iraq-Norway match had sold around 6,000 tickets at the time of the briefing.
Healey closed by urging fans to prepare for summer conditions, noting that the Department of Public Health would monitor events in close contact with EMS and medical teams. “We know that there could be real heat and a lot of heat and a lot of crowds,” she said. “We want to make sure that people have taken the right precautions and are hydrated and dressed appropriately.”
She placed the World Cup within a packed Massachusetts summer that includes the MA250 celebrations, July 4th festivities, and the arrival of tall ships on July 11, alongside Red Sox, Revolution, and Boston Legacy FC action. “This is a great opportunity for our state. It’s a great opportunity for residents, and it’s a great opportunity for our young people,” Healey said. “So we just want everybody to have a wonderful, safe, and happy World Cup experience.”
All match-day information — covering safety, public health, transportation, prohibited items, and travel modifications — is available at mass.gov/worldcup, officials said.
“Massachusetts is match ready,” Healey said, “and we’re going to have a really wonderful experience here.”
This article was originally written in English. The French and Haitian Creole versions were produced using AI translation software; errors may occur, and the English version is authoritative. CTN also uses AI to convert text to audio.
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