When Boston was announced as one of World Cup’s locations for 2026, it was a big deal. Bringing lots of tourists, boosting the economy, and having one of the biggest games in the world is a huge honor. However, this past month has put the games in Boston in jeopardy. 

At the start of the month, President Trump threatened to relocate the World Cup games from Boston, citing safety concerns and mayoral politics. However, President Trump does not have the authority to move the location.  

Then it was reported that the city of Boston is facing financial problems, as the state of Massachusetts has fallen short of expectations. Both the Massachusetts House and Senate have earmarked a total of $15 million combined. $5 million from the Senate would support public transit for the matches.  

Without funding, there could be no backup shuttle buses. In the event that the MBTA trains fail, fan events and services would have to be scaled back.  

The Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, is pressing lawmakers to approve the funding and support the $20 million in funding. Time is ticking as FIFA just opened their second phase of the World Cup tickets. Kansas City has announced they would host a World Cup fan fest for free.  

Most students aren’t worried about it. Junior Cairo Archer said that Trump does not have the authority. He claimed, “President Trump has no power to do so. It’s ultimately up to FIFA if they want to do so or not.” Some students said they might volunteer for the matches.  

As of right now the first group stage in Boston for FIFA World Cup will take place on June 13th, 2026, at Gillette Stadium and will be hosting five group stages wuth round 32 and the quarterfinal concluding in July. 

While the Kraft Group owners of Gillette Stadium presented the original bid to host the World Cup, their staff will not be involved in helping the event. According to Dr. Leary, partnerships like KS+E, which normally connect Dean College students with Kraft-related opportunities, will not be involved in this event.  

Despite these uncertainties around the event, excitement remains high for the world’s biggest sporting event. However, Boston’s final preparations may come down to the wire closer than people might imagine.