World Cup 2026: Who plays at Gillette Stadium?

Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts has been selected as one of the many USA-based venues for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Gillette Stadium, which will be known as the Boston Stadium during the tournament, will host seven matches throughout the summer, including a quarter-final tie on July 9. 

Its selection as a host venue means the stadium will play a key role in the biggest World Cup ever staged. With 48 teams and and 104 matches making up the expanded tournament, FIFA has placed trust in Gillette Stadium's ability to welcome large international crowds and deliver a world-class matchday experience.

Gillette Stadium selected as a venue for 2026 World Cup

Who currently plays at Gillette Stadium?

Located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium, like many venues at the 2026 World Cup, is a multi-purpose ground. As a result, the site is able to host events from a variety of sports, which therefore allows it to be the home of two different teams in two different sports.

The first of which is the New England Patriots, who compete in the National Football League in the American Football Conference East Division. The other team is the New England Revolution – who play in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. ‘

Both have called the ground home ever since it opened over 20 years ago in 2002.

A brief history of Gillette Stadium

Construction of Gillette Stadium began in 2000 – a process which cost approximately $325 million at the time of completion and has since risen to over $500 million.

The Boston-based ground currently has a maximum capacity of approximately 65,000, with its record attendance standing at over 71,000 people – although it is worth noting that this figure was achieved during a music concert rather than a sporting event.

It first played host to a major event in 2002, when the New England Revolution welcomed FC Dallas to Boston in what would eventually result in a 2-0 victory for the home side.

By the time the 2026 World Cup arrives, the venue will have more than two decades of experience in hosting major events, both entertainment and sporting.

What makes Gillette Stadium worthy of hosting a World Cup?

A History of hosting events in football

Despite the ground being multi-purpose and used as an American Football pitch regularly, Gillette Stadium has a relatively impressive resume when it comes to hosting events in traditional European football.

In 2003, the venue hosted four games at the Women's World Cup, while it also opened its doors for a handful of Copa America fixtures in 2016. Both of these were hospitality successes in their own right, and go some way to confirming that the ground has the facilities needed to host prestigious international events.

Gillette Stadium was also the venue of the 2002 MLS Cup.

Top-tier hygiene standards

As important as having the raw qualities needed to host such an important event, is the ability to maintain a high level of cleanliness and hygiene inside the ground when a conveyor belt of supporters from all over the world flock to the stadium.

Gillette Stadium appears to thrive in this regard, with the site a recipient of the coveted GBAC Star accreditation. Such an award means that the ground has excellent protocols regarding cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.

As per the stadium's official website, these protocols include:

• Hand sanitizing stations
• Touchless toilets and sinks
• Limiting touchpoints between supporters and staff
• Mobile tickets only
• Being a cashless venue

Variety of attractions

Aside from the main attraction, which will of course be the football being played on its pitch, Gillette Stadium offers a wide variety of additional attractions to supporters visiting the facility – ensuring that the basic criteria of any World Cup being a memorable experience is met.

The pick of the bunch may just be the Gillette Stadium lighthouse – the tallest of its kind in the whole of America – which is located within the ground itself. Its peak stands at a whopping 22 stories above pitch level, and the accompanying 360-degree viewing deck “provides spectacular panoramic views of the stadium and the surrounding area, including the Boston and Providence skylines.”

Other attractions include the Patriots Hall of Fame as well as a 1.3-million-square-foot shopping, dining and entertainment complex known as Patriot Place.

What World Cup games will the Gillette Stadium host?

The Gillette Stadium, known as the Boston Stadium during the World Cup, will host five Group games and two knockout fixtures.

The fixture list includes matches involving England and France, ensuring two of the tournament's most heavily-supported and widely tipped nations will visit the venue. The presence of a quarter-final also guarantees that the Gillette Stadium will remain a focal point of the competition deep into the knockout stages in July.

• June 14: Haiti vs Scotland (Group C)
• June 16: Iraq vs Norway (Group I)
• June 19: Scotland vs Morocco (Group C)
• June 23: England vs Ghana (Group L)
• June 26: Norway vs France (Group I)
• June 29: Round of 32
• July 9: Quarter-Final