Boston has said that tailgating will be allowed at Gillette Stadium during the 2026 World Cup.
The Boston Host Committee (aka Boston 26) had previously said tailgating would not be allowed before matches at the stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Boston 26 said the decision to ban tailgating was down to FIFA regulations, but FIFA quickly released a statement earlier this month saying it did not have any policy banning tailgating.
On Monday, April 27, Boston 26 clarified its policy around tailgating in a statement.
“Based on prior information that FIFA communicated to Boston Soccer 2026, it was both our understanding and the host venue’s understanding that 'no tailgating' was a tournament-wide FIFA rule, and we included that information in our forward-facing messaging accordingly," the statement said.
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)
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MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)
"In light of FIFA’s recent comments, we sought clarification from FIFA in order to provide the best fan experience possible. We are pleased to share that tailgating will be permitted at Boston Stadium like any other event hosted at the stadium as there are no venue restrictions or local public safety restrictions in place that would prohibit it. Additional fan information will be shared ahead of the start of the tournament.”
Boston will host seven matches at the World Cup 2026 including five group-stage games, a round of 32 match and a quarterfinal.
At many World Cup venues across the U.S. this summer, tailgating will still be limited compared to what fans are used to at NFL games or concerts.
World Cup matches will see stadium parking lots filled with a number of extra areas not typically seen at NFL games. Those include fan entertainment zones, sponsorship hospitality areas and broadcast centers.
There will also be enhanced security measures that will occupy stadium real estate. Larger security perimeters around stadiums will result in less space for parking.
At Gillette Stadium, there will be 5,000 spots for fan parking, compared to the usual 20,000 spots for New England Patriots games and concerts, local transportation officials said in February.
Parking will also be very expensive. The cheapest parking pass for any Boston game through FIFA's official parking website is currently set at $175.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tailgating allowed at 2026 World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium