Boston: A World Cup host city travel guide

After more than 30 years, the FIFA World Cup is back in Boston, Massachusetts – or at least it’s near to one of America’s great sporting cities.

World Cup games will be hosted in the small town of Foxborough – about 30 miles south of “Beantown” – for the first time since 1994, when the now-demolished Foxboro Stadium hosted eventual runner-up Italy’s 2-1 win over Spain in the quarter-finals.

Boston/Foxborough also hosted Women’s World Cup matches in 1999 and 2003, the latter at the current Gillette Stadium, which opened in 2002 and is home to the NFL’s New England Patriots.

World Cup fixtures in Boston

Boston will host seven World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which will be known as Boston Stadium during the tournament. The fixtures feature England, France, Scotland, Morocco, Ghana, Norway, Iraq and Haiti, alongside knockout-stage action.

With England, France and Scotland all scheduled to play, Boston is set to host some of the tournament’s most anticipated group-stage fixtures before welcoming fans back for the knockout rounds

13 June – Group C: Haiti vs Scotland
16 June – Group I: Iraq vs Norway
19 June – Group C: Scotland vs Morocco
23 June – Group L: England vs Ghana
26 June – Group I: Norway vs France
29 June: Round of 32 match
9 July: Quarter-final

Boston’s sporting culture

As one of the great sports cities in the US, Boston has a culture shaped by championship-winning teams and generations of passionate supporters.

The NFL’s New England Patriots and MLS side New England Revolution play at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, while the city itself hosts the MLB’s Boston Red Sox at the iconic Fenway Park, as well as the NBA’s Boston Celtics and the NHL’s Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

Major annual events including the Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most prestigious road races.

Landmarks and places to see

Massachusetts was one of the original 13 colonies for what would become the United States. So, Boston is rich in American history. Top tourist spots include American Revolution-themed sites like the Boston Tea Party ships, as well as the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s house. Sports venues like Fenway Park and TD Garden are also popular.

Food scene in Boston

There’s a little bit of everything in Boston. It starts with the North End for all things Italian. Seafood is also huge, where lobster rolls and clam chowder are staples, particularly downtown near the wharf and Boston Harbor. There are also several Michelin-starred restaurants in Boston, Cambridge and surrounding cities.

Fan zones

Official FIFA Fan Festival events will take place from 12-27 June at Boston City Hall Plaza, in the heart of downtown. High Street Place will become Boston’s House of Soccer and feature a giant indoor screen for fans to watch World Cup action between 11 June and 19 July. The city of Revere is also hosting free watch parties beginning 12 June for the USA vs. Paraguay game and on various dates throughout the tournament.

Transportation options

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, known locally as the “T”, has set train prices at $80 round trip from Boston to Foxborough for tournament games. There also is an express bus option that will depart from various Boston-area locations, which will cost $95 round trip.

Stadium tips

Tailgating will be allowed prior to matches, but space will be severely reduced from what is normally available for NFL games. There are about 20,000 parking spots available for Patriots games, but there will be only around 5,000 for public use during the World Cup.

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