Although the draw for the FIFA World Cup took place back in December, things are far from set in stone for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, fan security in the USA is now a legitimate risk due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has increased the chances of terrorism in the country.
Secondly, Donald Trump's travel ban means that fans from two competing nations – Iran and Haiti – will be unable to attend the tournament.
The most recent concern, although not as serious as the conflict in Iran, relates to the Gillette Stadium and the possibility of it being scrapped as one of the 16 host stadiums.
Foxborough town chair threatens to pull Gillette Stadium from the World Cup
In recent months, Foxborough town representatives have been at loggerheads with FIFA officials over which body is responsible for the extra security that will be required to ensure that everything runs smoothly at the seven World Cup matches being played here.
The total cost of the extra security is believed to be in the region of £5.5m, but local representatives in Foxborough, where the stadium is located, don't believe that the outlay is worth it if they have to pay for the security on their own.
The argument relates to the benefits that will come with hosting World Cup matches. FIFA argues that the tournament has the potential boost local US economies by £20bn, but officials in Foxborough argue that the town is simply too small to be able to reap any benefits.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Foxborough needs $8M to cover police & public safety costs for 7 World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium.
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) February 17, 2026
Without funding by March 17, the town won’t grant FIFA the license.
🇺🇸🗣️ Town manager Paige Duncan: “If nobody gives money: NO World Cup in Foxborough!” pic.twitter.com/6QHr69IBuH
Foxborough town chair Stephanie McGowan said:
“We may get a little more in meals tax and hotel tax, but this is not a moneymaker for this town. In fact, it’s probably more of a headache than it’s worth.
“This is nothing more than seven events at the stadium. If the World Cup wasn’t coming, we’d probably have seven concerts during that time. We’re not gaining much of anything by hosting this event. I think people need to know that too. This is not a lot of money coming into our town.
“It’s going to be a flat no, unless we know the money is there.”
FGG says: Bad news for Scotland
The sudden uncertainty around the Gillette Stadium is far from helpful for the Scotland national team, as they are due to play two of their three group stage matches at the stadium. A sudden change now could jeopardise their entire preparation and handicap them before a ball has been kicked.