Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is preparing for a landmark weekend. This Sunday, the New England Revolution open their 2026 MLS home slate against FC Cincinnati, bringing the first home crowd of the season to a pitch transformed for this summer’s tournament.
But a far bigger challenge was quietly threatening the summer ahead. A costly dispute over World Cup security funding had put seven FIFA matches at serious risk, and it took one of New England’s most powerful figures, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, to put it to rest.
Robert Kraft Backs Security Deal for Foxborough’s World Cup Games
For weeks, Foxborough’s Select Board hadrefused to grant the entertainment license FIFA needs to stage World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium. The town demanded $7.8 million upfront to cover police, fire, and public safety costs.
That money was earmarked under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which set aside $625 million for all 11 host cities. But DHS funding ran out on February 14 after Congress deadlocked over immigration enforcement, and not a single dollar reached any host committee.
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Covers $7.8M World Cup Security Bill After Foxborough's License Threat
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Covers $7.8M World Cup Security Bill After Foxborough’s License Threat (Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
The answer came Wednesday night, just days before the March 17 deadline. A three-party agreement between Foxborough, Boston Soccer 2026, and Kraft Sports + Entertainment ended the standoff for good.
The Boston committee will pay the $7.8 million upfront, with Kraft’s group providing the full guarantee. Foxborough bears no cost, no liability, and no risk.
Select Board Chair Bill Yukna confirmed Thursday the deal clears the path for license approval at next week’s hearing.
The move came weeks after Kraft was passed over for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, a decision that caused considerable consternation across the NFL.
With the dispute now settled, Gillette Stadium will host five group-stage matches, a Round of 32 game on June 29, and a quarterfinal on July 9. Not everyone viewed Kraft’s move the same way, though. Fans reacted fast once the news broke.
Fans React to Robert Kraft
Opinions online split quickly once the deal was confirmed.
One supporterwelcomedthe news: “You knew he’d figure out a way to make it happen”
A second fanwasmore direct: “and thus ends what could have been one of the Kraft Group’s biggest unforced errors. No one was siding with them.”
A thirdquestionedhis motives: “A self-serving act on his part. The Patriots derive revenue from every event held there. I’m not damning him. Just don’t celebrate him.”
A fourthputit plainly: “Should have been the solution from day 1. Shows what a town can get when they don’t accept the billionaire’s default solution”
With the license now on track, Gillette Stadium opens its World Cup chapter on June 13 when Haiti face Scotland in Group C. Norway and France follow on June 26, with the quarterfinal on July 9 rounding out Foxborough’s summer.