Gillette Stadium will welcome some special guests in the coming week as FIFA kicks off their first venue tour for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, September 15th.
This is not the first time international soccer has been at the forefront in Foxboro. In 1993, Foxboro witnessed a major upset as the United States earned a 2-0 shutout victory over England. One year later, the old Foxboro Stadium hosted six World Cup matches, including the Round of 16 match between Nigeria and Italy and the quarterfinal match between Italy and Spain.
The 2026 World Cup will play across all three North American countries. Cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States will now pitch their case to FIFA as to why their city should host soccer’s most prestigious international competition.
After visiting Boston, the committee spearheaded by FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani will visit other US cities such as Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami. The committee will also visit cities in Mexico and Canada, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Edmonton, and Toronto.
FIFA plans on visiting all potential host cities in the three countries by the end of November. FIFA will use these visits to influence their decision as they narrow down the list of cities that will host the 2026 World Cup, which will release in the first or second quarter of 2022.