England’s World Cup group matches are thrown into chaos as US stadium licensing issues threaten to cancel matches at Gillette Stadium, while FIFA Fan Fest is canceled just four months before kick-off
FIFA Fan Fest scrapped in embarrassing blow as England match in jeopardy over US stadium licensing row (Image: Getty Images)
England’s World Cup group matches have been thrown into chaos after US stadium officials refused to grant mandatory licenses in a harrowing row over security funding.
With the official FIFA Fan Fest in the New York/New Jersey area canceled with just four months to go, this summer’s tournament is quickly descending into a farce before a ball is even kicked. New England officials are threatening to cancel World Cup games at Gillette Stadium, including the Scotland games, if they don’t receive critical public safety funding.
If the cash is not paid, the Foxboro City Commission has threatened to refuse to issue the entertainment license needed to host games at the New England Patriots’ 64,628-seat home. Such a move would disrupt the travel plans of thousands of England supporters.
Fans have already paid thousands of pounds for flights, hotels and match tickets. With games potentially taking place hundreds of miles apart, late cancellations can mean significant costs and forced rescheduling of travel with no guarantee of recouping costs.
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The town is scheduled to host seven games this summer, including the quarterfinals. Haiti is scheduled to play Scotland in Foxborough on June 13th, followed by Scotland vs. Morocco on June 19th and England vs. Ghana on June 23rd. Two final tournaments are also scheduled: France and Norway.
But despite a three-year plan by Foxborough police and fire chiefs, the town said it was still waiting for £5.8 million to cover security costs. Town leaders say they can’t afford to pay a seven-figure bill upfront and wait for a refund later. Without funding, key safety equipment has not yet been ordered and preparations will remain incomplete.
“That’s the equivalent of seven Super Bowls and 39 days of coverage here. That’s no small thing and we can’t afford to lose it. We have to secure that facility for 39 consecutive days,” warned Bill Yukna, a member of the Foxborough Board of Selectmen. He added, “It makes it sound like Foxboro is the bad guy here, but the reality is we’re not. All we’re trying to do is protect our people.”
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Foxboro city officials are at odds with FIFA over the use of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots NFL team. (Image: Getty Images)
In a tense meeting last week, town officials confirmed that mandatory recreational licenses will be on hold until millions of dollars are reimbursed. The deadline for granting the license is March 17th. Selected board member Stephanie McGowan emphasized the financial burden, saying, “The money has to be here. Everyone thinks we have a football stadium in town, but we’re a small town. We’re 18,000 people.”
The funding dispute has escalated at the worst possible time. Boston 2026 Host Committee Chairman Mike Loind asserted that the White House is working daily with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure funding for the grant.
But the Department of Homeland Security is currently closed following the expiration of government funding, raising new uncertainty about when Foxboro can expect or even get cash.
Thousands of fans have already boycotted matches due to high ticket prices and President Donald Trump’s policies (Image: PA)
Last month, local police departments, Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police were awarded a total of £8.15 million in grants to protect against “malicious drone activity” during World Cup matches and American 250 events. But that allocation does not cover the broader security bill the town claims it faces.
The confusion is growing as organizers in the New York and New Jersey area grapple with their own setbacks. Eight World Cup games, including the final, are scheduled to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. However, the region’s official FIFA Fan Fest, planned at Liberty State Park, was canceled just four months before the tournament began.
The fan festival was announced in February 2025 by Tammy Murphy, wife of then-New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and chair of the New York/New Jersey Host Committee Board of Directors.
Planning has been in the works for a year, with the ambition to run the site through all 104 games. Tickets were already on sale, and the state Department of Environmental Protection had suspended picnic reservations and restricted access to grassy areas in preparation.
The hugely popular FIFA Fan Fest, where fans could not get tickets, has been canceled (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
However, the Liberty State Park plan was abandoned following a series of policy changes by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who took office earlier this year. Instead, it announced it would donate £3.7 million to efforts to “bring the excitement” of the tournament to communities across New Jersey through small watch parties and street fairs.
“The Jersey City venue is no longer in use, and in its place, Governor Sherrill is creating a program to bring the excitement of the World Cup to communities across New Jersey. We look forward to working closely with New Jersey EDA and the World Cup Host Committee to develop this program and provide New Jerseyans with great experiences in every region of the state,” said Steve Sigmund, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office.
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