The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced that train tickets from Boston's South Station to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for 2026 World Cup matches will cost $80 round-trip. The normal round-trip train fare from Boston's South Station to Foxborough for events like Patriots games and concerts is $20. The $80 train tickets will be sold exclusively through the MBTA's mTicket app, are limited, nonrefundable, and require a same-day match ticket purchased with the same email address, according to multiple reports. The $80 train tickets are valid for unlimited travel across the entire commuter rail network on match days, according to multiple reports.
Gillette Stadium will host seven matches during the 2026 World Cup, including matches featuring England's national team. England will play Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on June 23, 2026, according to multiple reports. The MBTA expects up to 20,000 passengers to take the commuter rail to Foxborough Station each match day.
At what is normally a $20 return, we are incredibly disappointed that this has been allowed to happen. For a stadium so far away from its advertised location, all organisers had a duty to ensure supporters could get there sustainably and for a fair price. Unfortunately, like much with this tournament, supporters are gouged.
FIFA has reduced parking at Gillette Stadium from the typical 20,000 spaces for major events to 5,000 spaces for World Cup matches due to a security perimeter, according to multiple reports. FIFA is charging $150 for each parking space and $600 for oversized vehicles at Gillette Stadium for World Cup matches. The reduced parking will place an extra burden on the state's public transit system, which will have to meet the travel demands of tens of thousands of spectators. A FIFA spokesman said the security perimeter and parking inventory were decided with the stadium owners, and on-site parking is provided for teams, media, broadcasters, commercial partners, and official hospitality guests.
The MBTA is looking to recover $35 million in costs for upgrades to Foxborough Station ahead of the World Cup, according to the Boston Globe. Foxborough town officials are outraged over a $5.5 million shortfall in security funding and may not grant an entertainment license for World Cup games if a deal is not reached within nine days, according to multiple reports. Whether Foxborough will grant the entertainment license remains uncertain.
The number of available parking spots for the general public near the stadium will plunge from the typical 20,000 for a major event to 5,000 to establish a security perimeter around the stadium. This will of course, place an extra burden on the state’s public transit system, which will have to meet the travel demands of tens of thousands of spectators.
The Free Lions, the Football Supporters' Association's Fans' Embassy service for traveling England fans, condemned the $80 train fare on social media. Paul Goodwin, co-founder of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, criticized the high costs for fans attending the World Cup. At Euro 2024 in Germany, fans could use their match ticket to access free public transport for 36 hours surrounding the game, according to multiple reports.
Parts of New York City's Penn Station will reportedly be closed to all but fans traveling to MetLife Stadium for World Cup games for four hours before kickoff, according to multiple reports. How this closure will impact commuters and daily operations is unclear.
MBTA general manager Phil Eng said taking the commuter rail will be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get to and from the stadium. However, how the MBTA will handle the expected 20,000 passengers per match day if train tickets are limited and nonrefundable is unknown. What specific upgrades to Foxborough Station cost $35 million and whether the $80 fare directly funds this recovery also remains unspecified. Whether FIFA or local authorities will provide alternative transportation options for fans unable to secure $80 train tickets or $150+ parking is another open question.