BOSTON — Tailgating will indeed be permitted prior to FIFA World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium.
The Boston World Cup host committee announced on Monday that FIFA has reversed its previous decision to prohibit tailgating at all 104 tournament matches, scheduled to take place in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Gillette Stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, south of Boston, will host six group-stage matches as well as a quarterfinal on July 9.
The committee clarified that this decision aligns with local policies that permit tailgating for events at the stadium, as there are currently no restrictions from either the venue or local public safety officials.
This includes events such as games played by the NFL’s New England Patriots, the MLS team New England Revolution, and various concerts.
However, parking space will be significantly reduced compared to regular game days. While approximately 20,000 parking spots are typically available for Patriots games, only around 5,000 will be accessible to the public during the World Cup.
The Metro Boston Transit Authority has set round-trip train fares at $80 from Boston to Foxborough for the tournament games—four times higher than their rates for NFL and MLS events. There is also an express bus service departing from multiple Boston-area locations, available for $95 round trip.
Earlier on Monday, New York City announced plans for a series of fan fests across its five boroughs, coinciding with World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and other venues nationwide.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.