Boston ’26 says Kraft Group backing WC funding

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Two weeks before a licensing deadline, Boston World Cup organizers told Foxborough town officials they would pay for about $8 million in security costs, but the two sides remained at odds at a town meeting Tuesday evening.

Gary Ronan, an attorney for Goulston & Storrs representing the Boston 2026 host committee, told town officials 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 shortfall.

He added that the host committee would pay any costs within two business days of being invoiced.

“If you don’t get paid, you can terminate the license,” Ronan said. “The next soccer game doesn’t happen.”

The board is scheduled to vote on granting FIFA a license to use the stadium for seven World Cup games at its next meeting on March 17. Gillette Stadium is set to host its first match on June 13, when Scotland takes on Haiti.

At the heart of the dispute is nearly $8 million the town says it needs to pay Foxborough police. The federal government has earmarked $625 million for the 11 host cities in the U.S. “to enhance security and preparedness,” but the money is delayed by the partial government shutdown, and it is unclear how much Foxborough will receive.

In the meantime, town officials said they will not spend taxpayer money on a promise that Foxborough will be paid back. Instead, they want the organizers to guarantee the funds up front.

In a tense exchange, Goulston & Storrs attorney Peter Tamm said that town officials have never required advance payment for previous events and that their authority is limited by the law. Town officials then called on their own attorney, Lisa Mead, who said that the board has “broad discretion” and that “past practice … does not impact or restrain the board in any way.”

One board member pointed out that the arrangement with FIFA is unprecedented, as the town has always dealt with the Kraft Group.

The attorneys and town officials disagreed over a deadline for the delivery of security materials. Ronan said the equipment would be available by June 1, which town officials responded was too late.

“We have clearly put out when that list has to be acquired by and quite honestly some of it is already past the dates,” board chair Bill Yukna said. “Waiting until June 1 is unacceptable.”

Ronan clarified that June 1 was a deadline, not the date when delivery would begin.

Foxborough town manager Paige Duncan said police and fire chiefs have been working with FIFA on the security plan for over a year.

Near the end of the meeting, Foxborough police chief Michael A. Grace took the floor to reiterate the need for a speedy resolution.

“We’re 99 days away and the simple solution is very simple: Fund what we need funded, and this issue is over tomorrow,” Grace said.

Afterward, Ronan and Tamm declined further comment.

Boston 2026 CEO Mike Loynd told reporters he was feeling more confident about meeting the funding requirements, especially with the backing of the Kraft Group.

“What we have now just is a hard week or 10 days of work,” he said.

This post was originally published at ESPN