FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Two weeks before the licensing deadline, Boston World Cup organizers told Foxborough city officials they would pay about $8 million in security costs, but the two sides remained at odds at a town meeting Tuesday night.
Gary Ronan, a Goulston & Storrs attorney representing the Boston 2026 host committee, told city officials that the organization “is willing to pay for everything…necessary to hold these events safely” and that it has a guarantee from the Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium, to fund any shortfalls.
He added that the host committee would pay the costs within two business days of the invoice date.
“If you don't get paid, you can terminate the license,” Ronan said. “The next football game is not held.”
The board is scheduled to vote on granting FIFA a license to use the stadium for seven World Cup matches at its next meeting on March 17. Gillette Stadium will host its first match on June 13, when Scotland takes on Haiti.
At the center of the dispute is the nearly $8 million the city says it needs to pay Foxborough police. The federal government has allocated $625 million to the 11 host cities in the United States “to improve safety and preparedness,” but the money is delayed due to the partial government shutdown and it is unclear how much Foxborough will receive.
Meanwhile, city officials said they won't waste taxpayer money on a promise to pay Foxborough back. Instead, they want organizers to guarantee funds up front.
In a tense exchange, Goulston & Storrs attorney Peter Tamm said city officials have never demanded advance payments for previous events and that their authority is limited by law. City officials then called their own attorney, Lisa Mead, who said the board has “broad discretion” and that “past practices … do not affect or restrict the board in any way.”
A member of the board of directors noted that the agreement with FIFA is unprecedented, since the city has always dealt with the Kraft group.
Lawyers and municipal officials did not agree on the deadline for the delivery of security materials. Ronan said the equipment would be available on June 1, to which city officials responded that it was too late.
“We've clearly posted when that list needs to be acquired, and honestly, some of it is already past the dates,” said board president Bill Yukna. “Waiting until June 1 is unacceptable.”
Ronan clarified that June 1 was the deadline, not the date delivery would begin.
Foxborough City Manager Paige Duncan said police and fire chiefs have been working with FIFA on the safety plan for more than a year.
Near the end of the meeting, Foxborough Police Chief Michael A. Grace took the floor to reiterate the need for a quick resolution.
“There are 99 days left and the simple solution is very simple: fund what we need and this problem will be over tomorrow,” Grace said.
Ronan and Tamm subsequently declined to comment further.
Boston 2026 CEO Mike Loynd told reporters he felt more confident meeting funding requirements, especially with the backing of the Kraft Group.
“What we have now is just a hard week or 10 days of work,” he said.
