FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now just weeks away, Foxborough town leaders are raising concerns about how the massive international event could affect traffic and residents, following last week’s Brazil–France friendly match, which caused major congestion around Gillette Stadium.
Officials say the friendly, which drew about 63,000 fans, was safe and orderly with no arrests, but traffic quickly became overwhelming.
The 4 p.m. kickoff collided with the evening commute, clogging Route 1 and Interstate 95 and leaving roughly 7,000 fans unable to get inside the stadium by the start of the match.
Foxborough Police Chief Michael Grace said rideshares flooded side streets, creating gridlock and spilling into residential neighborhoods, where some residents reported fans using private yards as bathrooms.
“We can’t change the infrastructure, we can’t change 95, so the only thing we can control is messaging,” Grace said.
Town leaders say the World Cup could bring even greater challenges, with more out‑of‑state and international visitors expected to rely on public transit and organized bus transportation.
While officials acknowledge they can’t change the region’s road infrastructure, they say clearer messaging and planning will be key as Foxborough prepares to host multiple World Cup matches this summer.
Some select board members are now questioning how many large‑scale events the town can reasonably handle without placing too heavy a burden on residents.
“I think we as a board have to start thinking have to start thinking real seriously about when these events are and how they’re now going to affect our community,” Selectman Mark Elfman said. “It’s asking way too much of our community now, I mean, when it takes a poor senior citizen 30 minutes to get from Stop & Shop to Cross Street, that’s too much.”
Officials say they are working on a World Cup resource guide for the community and are urging locals to work from home on game days to ease congestion.
To learn more about the area, the sport, and all of the upcoming World Cup games, visit bostonsoccerguide2026.com.
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