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Long debate over FIFA World Cup licensing centers on who will pay for stadium public safety
Summary
Representatives for Boston Soccer 2026 told the board they will backstop public‑safety costs for FIFA matches at Gillette Stadium; town chiefs pressed for binding commitments on equipment delivery and timely payment, warning preparations cannot wait until June.
Representatives of Boston Soccer 2026 told the Select Board they will assume responsibility for public‑safety costs tied to the FIFA World Cup events at Gillette Stadium and will provide a commitment letter from Craft Sports & Entertainment to cover shortfalls.
"Boston Soccer 2026 actually has a substantial amount of money in the bank right now... In addition, Boston Soccer 2026 has a commitment from Craft Sports and Entertainment to fund any shortfall," lawyer Peter Tam said, describing the host committee as a close cooperating partner to FIFA and saying Boston Soccer 2026 would pay invoices within two business days of receipt to address municipal liquidity concerns.
Board members and public safety chiefs repeatedly pressed for firmer operational guarantees: Police Chief Mike Grace urged earlier delivery of equipment and said waiting until June 1 would be "unacceptable," stressing that public safety needs have been identified during more than a year of planning and cannot be finalized at the last minute.
"We are 99 or 100 days away from hosting the largest sporting event in the world and... we're deciding or can't seem to find necessary funding for necessary equipment," Chief Grace told the board. He said final readiness requires timely procurement, installation and training and urged a schedule that gives chiefs time to validate equipment and staffing.
Boston Soccer 2026 representatives said the event license will reflect obligations for staffing and equipment and that Boston Soccer 2026 is willing to be contractually responsible to ensure the town is not left with unpaid invoices if federal grant funding is delayed; they described operational coordination with chiefs and town counsel and said a draft license is under review.
Town counsel and board members stressed the board’s broad discretion to determine whether an applicant can meet public‑safety, health and nuisance standards and noted that the Select Board can condition or deny a license if it finds requirements unmet. Counsel also emphasized the board does not need to be constrained by prior practice on payment terms for a unique event.
The board set a public hearing and license consideration for May 17; members said they expect definitive documentation on funding backstops, equipment availability and staffing schedules in advance of that date and warned they may vote no if they are not satisfied at the hearing.
No license was issued at the March 3 meeting; the matter remains pending pending submission of commitment letters, equipment delivery schedules and final license language.
