Photo: Kendall Buhl/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2026 announced Tuesday the official FIFA World Cup Fan Festival will kick off on June 12 at City Hall Plaza.
The committee was joined by local officials such as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, they helped provide more details about the fan event.
Organizers created the festival to operate as the central gathering spot for the millions of locals and tourists in Boston that will be celebrating the World Cup.
The hub will be open for 16 days and will feature a variety of activities and events such as live broadcasts of the matches, interactive games, curated food and beverages and more.
The festival will be free to enter, but a registration system is being worked out to avoid overcrowding.
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll Photo: Kendall Buhl/WBZ NewsRadio
Driscoll said the World Cup is expected to bring increased economic activity to the area, as officials estimate the games could bring a nearly $800 million boost to Massachusetts’ tourism industry.
“[There will be] more heads in beds, more diners, more shoppers, certainly hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity will be brought back to the commonwealth, that’s real economic impact [and] that’s going to come from this worldwide stage that were on for these 16 days,” she added.
Boston Mayor Michelle WuPhoto: Kendall Buhl/WBZ NewsRadio
Meanwhile, Wu said that she’s excited for many to come together at the festival this summer.
“[The festival will] provide space for everyone to watch the games, cheer, enjoy our city and connect with our community,”.
Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, which will be called Boston Stadium during the games, will host seven matches, including a quarterfinal match.
The first match takes place on June 13 and will see Haiti and Scotland facing off against one another.
For more information about the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival, you can click here.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kendall Buhl (@WBZKendall) reports.