World Cup Fan Festival coming to Boston's City Hall Plaza for up to 16 days
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Boston City Hall Plaza in December 2022 during the NHL Winter Classic. Photo: Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
This summer's World Cup fan festival will be held on Boston City Hall Plaza, when the seven-acre space will be turned into a showcase and celebration of the world's most popular sport.
Why it matters: An estimated 2 million soccer fans from all over the world will gather near Boston icons like Faneuil Hall, the North End and the Cop Slide for FIFA's official "FanFest" while World Cup matches are played over 20 miles away at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Mayor Michelle Wu announced the plaza as the central gathering point for FIFA World Cup festivities Tuesday.
- The fan festival could span 16 days and officials say it's intended as a free public event.
Catch up quick: Seven matches are scheduled at Gillette Stadium.
- City Hall Plaza can hold 20,000–25,000 people.
- The Legislature approved $10 million for World Cup activities, including FanFest.
State of play: FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 president Mike Loynd said more details will be finalized by March.
- Loynd said the festival will include an area to watch simulcasts of the Foxborough and other World Cup matches, as well as a "playground" area where fans can kick soccer balls and try out their skills.
- Specifics on programming, entertainment, food vendors, hours, ticketing structure or daily schedules aren't yet available.
Wu said neighborhood watch parties are also planned and the city intends to expand its annual block party grant program to support celebrations throughout the city.
What they're saying: City chief of operations Dion Irish said the city has been working on including fans who can't make it to Foxborough.
- That means finding ways that we can engage our neighborhoods so that everyone is a part of it, whether you come downtown to FanFest or you're home in East Boston, Irish said.
The intrigue: The town of Foxborough is threatening to block FIFA from holding matches at Gillette unless it receives $8 million in public safety funding by mid-March.
- Loynd said he's comfortable that organizers and the town will reach an agreement.
- "We have a meeting in another week with them, select board meeting, where we anticipate almost all of the details being wrapped up," Loynd said.
What's next: The first Gillette match kicks off June 13.