(WJAR) — We’re less than a year away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Games taking place at Gillette Stadium, but there’s concern over money.
Massachusetts organizers said they’re still waiting on $20 million in state funding.
Boston 26 is the group organizing events in Massachusetts.
Its CEO, Mike Loynd, said without the cash, it would likely have to scale back major fan events and services.
“It certainly would be down scaled, if not very limited, if we didn’t have the funding from the state,” said Loynd.
{p}NBC 10’s Molly Levine reports that the 2026 FIFA World Cup Games are less than a year away from taking place at Gillette Stadium, but there’s concern over money.{/p}
Gov. Maura Healey said it’s currently in the hands of lawmakers.
“I put forward a request for funding. It’s currently with the legislature now,” she said.
Loynd said he believes the investments in the celebrations and services pay itself back.
“Every dollar spent will be returned five-fold, at a minimum, if not ten-fold,” he said. “So, for us, yeah, it’s about maximizing this opportunity.”
Rhode Island is also hoping to cash in.
“What we expect are about 40% of the attendees usually stay in Rhode Island for a Pats game, so we expect something similar to that,” said Liz Tanner, the executive director of Ocean State 2026.
It’s estimated that visitors to Rhode Island would spend $331 million during the nearly month-long tournament at Gillette Stadium next year.
Tanner said their nonprofit is working hard to prepare for the visitors and could potentially look to the state for funding as well.
“I mean, the legislature is out to session right now, but I do expect there will be an ask at some point in the beginning of the year,” said Tanner.
At the end of the day, the roles are different for the two states, and so is the need.
“From a Massachusetts perspective, the event is in their state, and they’re having a very large festival in one location in Boston, versus here in Rhode Island, we’re spreading things out across a variety of parts of the state, and we don’t have the actual event here,” said Tanner.
“For us, it’s all about hospitality, lodging, making sure we keep them busy,” she said.
NBC 10 News requested comment from state Rep. Michael Chaisson and state Sen. Paul Feeney, who represent Foxborough, but didn’t immediately hear back.
