Boston 2026 World Cup Committee Says More Funding Is Needed

The host committee for Boston's World Cup claims its ability to host a successful month-long event next summer is in “jeopardy” if state legislators cannot fund the committee's request for $20 million.

According to a Boston Globe report, the committee wants state funds to support backup transportation plans, fan celebration events, and its operations. However, negotiations surrounding the state supplemental spending bill to date have drawn $10 million from the House and nothing from the Senate.

Senate Ways and Means chair Michael Rodrigues said the State House has indeed delivered $5 million in World Cup funds to the Department of Transportation earlier this summer.

“As a longtime fan of European football, and the Portuguese national team in particular, I am very excited to see Massachusetts host the 2026 World Cup, right here in our backyard,” said Rodrigues in a statement shared with the Boston Globe. “Earlier this year, the Senate proposed and secured $5 million to help support public transit associated with World Cup travel to Foxborough. I welcome future discussions about how the Commonwealth can continue to help the event be successful and look forward to having those conversations.”

In its discussions with the Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey's office over the past year, the host committee scaled back its initial $37.5 million request. It settled on $20 million as the lowest amount it could go and still be successful with its work, including transportation and fan celebrations.

Even if Massachusetts were to grant $20 million to fulfill the committee's request, the dollar value of this support lags behind other host cities like New York, Dallas, and Kansas City.

Boston organizers anticipate 2 million visitors who will create more than $1 billion in economic impact. The city anticipates 9,000 jobs and $100 million in revenue, said Ron O'Hanley, chairman and CEO of State Street Bank and the honorary board chair of the city's World Cup committee.

O'Hanley told The Boston Globe that fully funding the committee will allow Boston to pull off an event that will more than recoup its expenses next summer and beyond.