Governor Healey Celebrates Successful World Cup Operations Across Massachusetts
Public Safety, Transportation, Public Health and State Partners Deliver Safe, Seamless Tournament Through Historic Statewide Coordination
BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today recognized the successful conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Massachusetts. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of thousands of public safety professionals, transportation workers, emergency managers, public health experts and state, local, federal and private-sector partners, Massachusetts
delivered a safe, secure, and welcoming tournament
experience for residents and visitors alike.
Following more than two years of planning and collaboration,
Match Ready Massachusetts brought together agencies across state government to execute one of the largest coordinated operations in the state history. Massachusetts safely hosted seven FIFA World Cup matches, including a quarterfinal match, hosted Team France's base camp, supported FIFA Fan Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza and dozens of community watch parties across the state, and showcased Massachusetts as a global destination for tourism,
sports and innovation.
"The World Cup gave Massachusetts an incredible opportunity to welcome visitors from around the globe and show off everything our state has to offer," said Governor Maura Healey. "From public safety and transportation to public health and emergency management, thousands of people worked around the clock to make sure every match was safe, every visitor felt welcome and every community could share in this historic moment. Their teamwork and dedication made this tournament an extraordinary success.
“In particular, the MBTA had a historic performance – safely and efficiently transporting tens of thousands of fans each day to the brand-new Foxboro station, as well as to points all around the region,” continued Governor Healey. “This is a testament to the turnaround at the T under our administration and the leadership of General Manager Eng. We hope residents and visitors alike continue to utilize our fare discounts throughout the rest of the summer and enjoy the major improvements we have made across the system."
"Hosting seven World Cup matches was an incredible opportunity to welcome visitors from around the world and show off everything Massachusetts has to offer," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "The teamwork, planning and coordination that went into this tournament were truly extraordinary, and the partnerships built through this effort will strengthen our ability to host major events for years to come."
Economic Impact and Tourism
The 2026 FIFA World Cup generated economic activity across Massachusetts, extending well beyond Boston Stadium through FIFA Fan Festival, community watch parties and regional events. These celebrations brought residents and visitors together, supported local businesses, showcased communities across the state and allowed more people to participate in the excitement of the tournament. State agencies worked closely with municipalities, tourism partners and event organizers to maximize the tournament's statewide economic and tourism benefits while ensuring events were safe and welcoming.
By the Numbers:
447,283 fans attended FIFA World Cup matches in Massachusetts
More than 30 communities hosted watch parties across the state
160,000 attendees from 108 countries visited the FIFA Fan Festival, with hundreds of thousands participating in celebrations statewide
Public Safety
Public safety operations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup represented one of the largest coordinated efforts ever undertaken in Massachusetts. A total of 14 specialized planning groups brought together local, state, federal and private-sector partners to coordinate communications, tactical operations, intelligence, transportation security, emergency management, health and medical services, public information, Fan Festival operations, team movements, and Boston Stadium security. Together, these partners delivered safe and seamless operations throughout the tournament.
“The success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates the power of working together in support of a global event unlike anything Massachusetts has seen before,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon. “Leaders from across local, state, and federal government planned complex match day operations for nearly two years with one shared mission of keeping people safe. Through these extraordinary partnerships, Massachusetts has raised the standard of excellence.”
By the Numbers:
Deployed more than 4,000 Massachusetts State Police (MSP) staff assignments
Coordinated 663 law enforcement missions through the State Police Operations Center, ensuring seamless command and control throughout the tournament
Protected tournament airspace by detecting 70 unauthorized drones, seizing 33 drones, and mitigating six drone incursions
Safely escorted teams, dignitaries and officials through 260 motorcycle escort missions across the tournament footprint
Provided continuous aerial law enforcement support through the State Police Air Wing, conducting surveillance, operational flights and civil unrest response missions
Maintained rapid tactical response capabilities through 145 TACOPS activations, including eight Quick Reaction Force deployments
Maintained a safe and secure environment at Boston Stadium
Activated up to 85 Massachusetts National Guard members to support stadium security
The multi-agency CBRNE Task Force screened 6,863 vehicles, assessed and cleared 1,346 unattended bags, and completed 619 security sweeps in support of stadium operations
Produced 38 daily situational awareness reports, providing a common operating picture and keeping partners informed of operational impacts and emerging issues
Deployed MEMA's Mobile Emergency Operations Center for 27 days to support match-day public safety operations, including explosive ordnance detection and hazardous materials response
Activated the Public Safety Unified Coordination Center seven times, facilitating coordination among 11 operations centers across Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Completed 16 Department of Fire Services Rehab Unit deployments, supporting more than 700 first responders
Conducted 28 Gator and UTV missions to support public safety and medical operations in and around Boston Stadium
Supported 30 missions for the U.S. Department of Energy Airborne Measurement System and Technical Support Group
Transportation
MassDOT, the MBTA and regional transportation providers successfully supported one of the largest travel operations in Massachusetts history, helping hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors travel safely and efficiently throughout the tournament. Through coordinated traffic management, enhanced incident response, real-time traveler information and expanded transit service, transportation partners minimized disruptions while providing reliable access to Boston Stadium.
Ahead of the World Cup, the MBTA completed major accessibility and capacity upgrades at Foxboro Station, including new fully accessible level-boarding platforms that improved passenger flow and allowed riders to board and exit trains more efficiently.
Throughout the tournament, the MBTA operated 14 dedicated Commuter Rail express trains for every match, complemented by additional station personnel, extended subway and bus service, and targeted schedule adjustments across the transit network to accommodate both World Cup visitors and regular riders. These investments and operational enhancements helped deliver unprecedented rail service to Boston Stadium.
“Since day one, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has been focused on rebuilding and strengthening our transportation system, and that commitment has delivered results. Those investments have made our system stronger and have allowed us to better serve our communities and the general public,” said Interim Secretary of Massachusetts & MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “People across the state continue to see and feel that impact, and that is what has laid the foundation for the success we have had with the World Cup. Thanks to the outstanding leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the support of our state legislature, coordination between MassDOT, the MBTA, our municipal partners, public safety agencies, and transportation stakeholders across the region, we successfully kept people moving while reducing traffic on our roadways. Through proactive planning, clear and consistent public messaging, and strong partnerships, we encouraged travelers to use public transportation and make informed travel decisions. This success reflects what can be achieved when agencies work together with a shared commitment to serving the public. On behalf of our teams, I want to thank every employee and partner whose dedication and teamwork helped deliver a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation network during this extraordinary period.”
Governor Healey also launched a series of
summer fare promotions and discounts on the Commuter Rail lowering costs for regular and visiting riders ahead of the tournament. This included Free Fridays, a 50 percent discount on monthly passes and expanded weekend travel for monthly pass holders.
By the Numbers:
Throughout June 13-July 9 (when Boston hosted World Cup Matches), the MBTA in partnership with Keolis Commuter Services:
Operated 98 round trip event trains between South Station and Foxboro Station, which is 14 per match
Sold over 108,940 round-trip train tickets, nearly 10 times the previous single-event record of approximately 11,000 tickets sold for the 2023 Army-Navy Game
Ensured 100 percent of trains arrived at Boston Stadium with at least 90 minutes before kickoff for every match
Updated existing station signage and installed over 400 new FIFA wayfinding material, including signs and decals throughout the transit system to help riders navigate stations and connections
Positioned 700 employees across the transit network on every match day, including customer service, operations, mechanical, engineering and safety personnel, to assist riders and quickly respond to operational needs
Established a temporary field maintenance facility in Mansfield, staffed by about 100 employees, to support light maintenance, cleaning, servicing, and inspections during the match so trains were ready to serve riders as soon as the final whistle blew
Hosted thousands of riders waiting for their boarding groups at Dewey Square in partnership with the Greenway group
Distributed over 26,400 cans of Water, 28,500 sunscreen packets, 44,000 ponchos, 25,000 hand sanitizer wipes, and 15,600 bug repellents through a partnership among MassDOT Security & Emergency Management and the Department of Public Health (DPH).
Implemented a comprehensive traffic management plan along major corridors to Gillette Stadium, using additional incident response, traveler messaging and traffic monitoring to minimize delays on Match Days.
Public Health
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) worked alongside local boards of health, hospitals, healthcare providers and emergency medical services to help ensure a safe and healthy tournament. Through enhanced disease surveillance, healthcare coordination, heat preparedness and multilingual public outreach, DPH supported public health operations while helping residents and visitors stay informed throughout the event.
"As the final whistle blew on the last World Cup match in Massachusetts, we had more to celebrate than six weeks of incredible soccer," said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. "We welcomed the world, showcased the very best of our Commonwealth and did it safely and seamlessly because of more than a year of planning and remarkable collaboration. I am deeply grateful to our Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management, our state and local partners, healthcare providers, first responders, and community organizations whose dedication and determination made this success possible. Public health works best when we come together, and this World Cup showed exactly what Massachusetts can accomplish through preparation, partnership and a shared commitment to keeping people healthy and safe."
By the Numbers:
Public health guidance distributed in five languages: English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole and Spanish
Coordinated with 72 hospitals across Massachusetts and 1 in Rhode Island as well as 4 Centralized Emergency Medical Dispatch centers
Seven pre-match healthcare coordination calls held with 24 acute care hospital systems, Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, four licensed ambulance services, three regional Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition sponsoring organizations, the Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island Healthcare Coordination Committee, and the Boston 26 host committee to support health system readiness and coordination, in addition to several dedicated webinars for healthcare providers and local public health in the months leading up to the events
Four unhealthy heat alerts issued across 16 days, including three match days; alert notifications distributed to 65,000 recipients through the Health and Homeland Alert Network
107 emergency medical service transports tracked from Boston Stadium, ranging from seven to 24 transports per match
Three ambulance strike teams provided during match days, working 10-hour shifts to support existing EMS operations between South Station and Foxborough
40 DPH staff supporting each match in either an in-person, virtual, or on-call capacity to promote situational awareness, provide heat mitigation supplies, monitor and mitigate health and medical impacts, and closely collaborate with other agencies to provide executive level decision-making and strategic guidance.
Public Information
A coordinated communications campaign,
Match Ready Massachusetts, helped keep residents, visitors and partners informed before and throughout the tournament with timely, multilingual public safety and public health information.
By the Numbers
57 public information officers coordinated messaging through a Joint Information Center spanning federal, state, and local agencies, event organizers, and nonprofit organizations
Two statewide public awareness campaigns launched to promote Match Readiness and Human Trafficking Awareness
Four public safety readiness press events held ahead of the tournament.
More than 40 multilingual digital assets and public service announcements produced to inform residents and visitors
More than 20 public safety and public health messages developed in five languages.
While the tournament has concluded, the partnerships, operational framework and lessons learned through Match Ready Massachusetts will continue strengthening the Commonwealth's preparedness for future large-scale events and emergencies.
