BOSTON, MA (February 10, 2026) – The Boston Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ announced plans for the FIFA Fan Festival™, which will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza. The announcement was made earlier today in a press conference at Boston City Hall Plaza featuring Governor Maura Healey, Mayor Michelle Wu, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), and Boston Host Committee leaders.
As Boston prepares to welcome fans from around the world for seven FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, the FIFA Fan Festival™ will offer residents, fans, and visitors opportunities to engage in the excitement of the tournament throughout the Commonwealth. The FIFA Fan Festival™ Boston will bring a fully immersive football celebration to Boston City Hall Plaza, creating a vibrant fan hub in the heart of the city. Fans will enjoy live match broadcasts, highlights, interactive games, activities, and a food and beverage program that reflects Boston’s local flavor — delivering an authentic, high-energy FIFA Fan Festival™ experience.
“We can’t wait to welcome fans from across the world to the FIFA World Cup and showcase all that Massachusetts has to offer,” said Governor Healey. “Fan Festival is going to be an incredible opportunity for residents and visitors alike to engage with the tournament, watch the matches, and enjoy local food and entertainment. Thank you to Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for hosting this at City Hall Plaza.”
“The City of Boston is thrilled to welcome fans from across the world to the City of Champions and celebrate this historic summer with Fan Festival on City Hall Plaza,” said Mayor Wu. “In addition to neighborhood gatherings, this central event will showcase all that Boston has to offer and deliver a premier viewing experience for all soccer fans to enjoy. We look forward to continuing to work with Boston 26, the Boston Host Committee and Governor Healey to ensure a safe, welcoming and exciting experience for all this summer.”
The Boston Host Committee has worked closely with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston as preparations continue for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is expected to generate more than $1 billion in projected economic impact across the region. Planning efforts include celebration and fan engagement activities, transportation, public safety, wayfinding, accessibility services, equity and inclusion initiatives, sustainability efforts, and volunteer support.
“I am excited that this Fan Festival event will be part of the World Cup experience for thousands of fans. Having an event like this with a centralized location is valuable and allows more people be part of the World Cup experience, even if they are unable to attend the games in person,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank the Governor and the Mayor for their support of this event as well as Boston 26 and everyone else involved.”
“FIFA World Cup 2026™ is about fans and engagement, not just in the stadiums but everywhere fans are. It also presents a tremendous opportunity for Boston to showcase its culture, innovation, and hospitality,” said Ron O’Hanley, chairman and chief executive officer of State Street. “Working alongside our public and private partners, we see FIFA World Cup 2026™ as a way to bring Commonwealth residents and visitors together to drive long-term economic activity, support local businesses, and strengthen Boston’s position as a destination for global events. Hosting the FIFA Fan Festival™ also gives FIFA a world-class platform in a city known for its passionate fans and proven ability to deliver large-scale events. We are proud to help create an experience that celebrates the games and delivers lasting impact for the entire region.”
“We are so excited to welcome the world to Boston for seven FIFA World Cup matches this summer,” said Meet Boston President & CEO Martha J. Sheridan. “The economic impact will be monumental, and we want that to be felt across Greater Boston. The FIFA Fan Festival at City Hall Plaza will serve as an anchor activation for fans to watch live game broadcasts and be part of a global phenomenon. The Fan Festival will draw spectators from near and far, creating a fantastic visitor experience that Meet Boston is thrilled to promote.”
The Boston Host Committee has selected DMSE Sports, an event management company, to support planning and on-the-ground operations of the FIFA Fan Festival™ at City Hall Plaza – which will occur over a period of up to 16 days this June – in coordination with the City of Boston and other state partners.
Additional details for the official FIFA Fan Festival, including daily programming, dates, and hours of operation, will be announced in March 2026.
“Hosting the FIFA Fan Festival is a significant moment for Boston and the fan experience surrounding the World Cup. Our focus is on creating an inclusive celebration that welcomes fans, residents, and visitors, and brings people together to share in the excitement of the tournament,” said Mike Loynd, chief executive officer of the Boston Host Committee. “This milestone on our Road to 26 reflects the strong collaboration behind it, and we’re grateful to Governor Healey, Mayor Wu, Chair Michlewitz, and our many partners for helping to bring this experience to life this summer.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the largest sporting event ever – staged across 16 Host Cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, and featuring 104 matches. Boston will host seven matches this summer at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough.
The match schedule includes:
· Match 5 – Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 21:00 ET, HAI v. SCO (Group C)
· Match 18 – Tuesday, 16 June 2026 at 18:00 ET, IRQ/BOL/SUR* v. NOR (Group I)
· Match 30 – Friday, 19 June 2026 at 18:00 ET, SCO v. MAR (Group C)
· Match 25 – Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at 16:00 ET, ENG v. GHA (Group L)
· Match 61 – Friday, 26 June 2026 at 15:00 ET, NOR v. FRA (Group I)
· Match 74 – Monday, 29 June 2026 at 16:30 ET, Round of 32
· Match 97 – Thursday, 9 July 2026 at 16:00 ET, Quarter-Final
*Final opponent will be determined by the results of the play-offs in March 2026.
Governor Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu recently joined the Boston 26 Honorary Board, which brings together distinguished leaders in the public and private sectors to provide strategic guidance and vision to Boston 26, the non-profit organization responsible for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ tournament preparations and celebrations across the Boston region.
For more information on FIFA World Cup™ Boston 2026, visit www.BostonFWC26.com and on Instagram @FWC26Boston.