Photo: Kyle Bray/ WBZ NewsRadio
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Authorities on the local, state, and federal levels are preparing for World Cup fever to sweep across Massachusetts.
Seven games in the upcoming FIFA World Cup will be played at Gillette Stadium, which has been dubbed "Boston Stadium" for the tournament.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said hosting the event has been compared to "hosting seven Super Bowls" in a four-week span, but that the state is equipped with $76 million in federal funds to help the tournament go smoothly.
"These funds help strengthen our staffing, training, equipment, planning and operational coordination," Healey said. "Seventy agencies and more are participating in safety planning efforts."
The World Cup starts Thursday, June 11. Boston Stadium will host its first match of the tournament — Haiti against Scotland — two days later on Saturday, June 13.
Prior to the start of the tournament, Boston Stadium will host an international friendly match between Brazil and France on March 26.
Foxborough Police Chief Michael Grace called the 4 p.m. exhibition game a "warm up" for when the tournament starts in earnest.
"It is definitely going to impact the commuter traffic," Grace said. "It is definitely going to impact people trying to get home [and] trying to get their kids in the surrounding communities."
The MBTA will run special event trains between Foxborough and South Station in Boston for the match. There will also be special service during the World Cup tournament.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.