The small Massachusetts town of Foxborough appears to have won its standoff over the $7.8 million security bill tied to the FIFA World Cup. Town officials had drawn a firm line in recent weeks, setting a March 17 deadline for organizers to present a funding plan or risk losing the license needed for matches to be held at Gillette Stadium. Negotiations remained tense throughout last week, spilling into public view after a heated meeting on Tuesday and a series of dueling statements issued to the press on Thursday and Friday.

Foxborough’s position was straightforward: the roughly 19,000-person town had not signed the agreement that brought seven World Cup matches to Gillette this summer, so it shouldn’t be responsible for covering the massive security costs tied to the global tournament. Now, just days before the deadline, the town, Boston’s World Cup host committee, and New England Patriots‘ owner Robert Kraft’s company, Kraft Sports & Entertainment, confirmed Wednesday night that they had reached a deal to cover those expenses upfront, with Kraft ultimately footing the bill, a resolution they detailed in a joint statement.

“As part of this arrangement, the Town of Foxborough will not incur any cost or financial burden ($7.8 million) related to the FIFA World Cup,” read a joint statement after the deal was finalized. “With Boston Soccer 2026 providing advance funding for security-related capital expenditures and the full extent of deployment that public safety officials have determined is needed to execute the event with Kraft Sports Entertainment’s backing.”

The agreement allows Foxborough leaders to move forward with the event license required for FIFA to stage matches at Gillette Stadium, with the Select Board expected to finalize approval during its March 17 public hearing. Under the arrangement, Boston Soccer 2026 — backed by Kraft Sports & Entertainment — will provide the money in advance for staffing, equipment and other public safety measures requested by the town’s police and fire departments.

The funding dispute had been brewing for months as organizers struggled to secure money to cover the extensive security operations required for the tournament. Foxborough officials said the $7.8 million estimate included police and fire staffing, emergency planning, and specialized equipment needed during the 39-day stretch of World Cup activity around Gillette Stadium. For the small town, the figure represented nearly 10% of its annual budget — a financial risk leaders argued should never fall on local taxpayers.

The situation escalated last week when Boston Soccer 2026 proposed reimbursing the town shortly after each match rather than paying the costs upfront. Town officials rejected the plan outright, saying the community could not front millions of dollars while waiting for repayment. Select Board member Mark Elfman accused organizers of attempting to “nickel and dime” local public safety officials, insisting that the town’s police and fire chiefs should determine what equipment and staffing were necessary to keep the event safe.

Tensions further flared when Kraft Sports & Entertainment indicated it would guarantee only up to $1.5 million in equipment costs, far short of the full security estimate, prompting Foxborough leaders to reiterate that they would deny the event license without a complete funding plan. The disagreement quickly spilled into public view, with the town saying it was “shocked and dismayed” after statements suggested an agreement had already been reached.

The eventual breakthrough came after Kraft personally intervened to guarantee the funding gap, according to Foxborough Select Board chair Bill Yukna.

“On behalf of the Town of Foxborough, I’m very pleased to say that all of our funding concerns have been addressed,” Yukna said in a statement. “I want to personally thank KSE and Robert Kraft for his involvement in bringing the funding concerns to a resolution.”

While the immediate dispute has been resolved, questions remain about longer-term funding tied to tournament security. Boston’s host committee has said it expects to receive roughly $30 million through government support and commercial partnerships, but federal funding allocated for World Cup security has been delayed amid a partial shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The town, which has a population of approximately 19,000, declined to bear the security cost associated with the mega event because the $7.8 million liability accounts for almost 10% of its yearly budget, and it would have fallen on the taxpayers’ shoulders.

The deadline for the deal between Foxborough officials and Robert Kraft’s company was March 17. However, after the businessman agreed to pay the amount, Kraft’s concession put the contentious issue to bed, and Gillette Stadium will now be able to host the matches without disruption.

Patriots’ home field to stage seven World Cup games

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will begin on June 11, which is less than three months away. Besides the United States, the event will be co-hosted by Mexico and Canada. In addition to Gillette Stadium, ten other NFL stadiums will serve as venues for the soccer tournament.

Due to FIFA’s sponsorship rules, Gillette Stadium will be temporarily renamed for the tournament. Based on its location, it is set to be called Boston Stadium, whereas the other stadiums of the country will follow the same rule.

The Patriots’ home ground will host seven games, featuring heavyweights like France and England, who have previously won the tournament. Of the seven scheduled games, the quarterfinal showdown on July 9 is poised to be the marquee contest. With a seating capacity of more than 65,000, each game is expected to create a lively atmosphere just like the Patriots’ home games.