England World Cup chaos as US town threatens to pull plug on key clash
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, uncertainty has emerged over seven matches scheduled to take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
According to LADbible and reporting by Jess Battison, local officials have warned that fixtures involving England and Scotland could be blocked if the town does not receive additional funding to cover security and policing costs.
England are due to face Ghana at the stadium on 23 June, while Scotland are scheduled to play two of their group matches at the same venue.
Funding dispute puts fixtures at risk
Foxborough officials say they are still waiting for £5.8 million to meet the safety and law enforcement costs linked to hosting the matches. Town leaders argue that with a population of around 18,000 people, they cannot absorb the financial burden alone.
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Board member Bill Yukna compared the scale of the event to hosting multiple championship games. He said: “It's the equivalent of seven Super Bowls here and 39 days of coverage, which is not small and not to be lost. We have to secure that facility for 39 days straight
“It comes down to sounding like Foxborough is being the bad guys here, but we really aren't. All we're trying to do is protect our citizens.”
With fewer than four months until the tournament begins, some safety equipment has reportedly not yet been ordered, leaving preparations incomplete.
The local board has indicated it could withhold the entertainment licence required to stage the games. The deadline for issuing that licence is 17 March.
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Pressure on a small Massachusetts town
Another board member, Stephanie McGowan, stressed the strain the tournament would place on local resources.
She said: “The money has to be here. Everyone thinks we have a football stadium in this town, but with that being said, we're a small town. We have 18,000 people.”
Yukna has previously reinforced the board’s position, stating: “The town is going to stand behind the request of the money for both manpower and some capital and expense items.
“And if they aren’t met, then as this board has discussed in the past, the license won’t be granted. We are going to be very clear with that.”
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Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, is set to host seven World Cup matches as part of the United States’ role as co host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
Licence deadline could force fifa rethink
If the licence is ultimately refused, FIFA would need to identify an alternative venue for the affected fixtures. That could trigger logistical challenges for teams and supporters who have already arranged travel and accommodation.
LADbible reported that it has contacted FIFA for comment.
The dispute highlights the financial pressures that global sporting events can place on smaller host communities, particularly when security demands stretch over several weeks.
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Sources: LADbible
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