Tailgating will be allowed at World Cup 2026 matches in Boston

TL;DR

Tailgating will be permitted at Gillette Stadium during the 2026 World Cup in Boston, reversing an earlier ban. The Boston Host Committee clarified that FIFA does not have a policy against tailgating.

Key points

Tailgating allowed at Gillette Stadium during World Cup 2026
Initial ban was based on misunderstanding of FIFA regulations
FIFA confirmed no policy against tailgating
Boston Host Committee clarified their stance on tailgating

Mentioned in this story

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World Cup 2026

Boston has said that tailgating will be allowed at Gillette Stadium during the 2026 World Cup.

The Boston Host Committee (aka Boston 26) had previously said tailgating would not be allowed before matches at the stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Boston 26 said the decision to ban tailgating was down to FIFA regulations, but FIFA quickly released a statement earlier this month saying it did not have any policy banning tailgating.

On Monday, April 27, Boston 26 clarified its policy around tailgating in a statement.

“Based on prior information that FIFA communicated to Boston Soccer 2026, it was both our understanding and the host venue’s understanding that 'no tailgating' was a tournament-wide FIFA rule, and we included that information in our forward-facing messaging accordingly," the statement said.

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)

AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta

Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City

Q&A

Why was tailgating initially banned at the 2026 World Cup matches in Boston?

Tailgating was initially banned due to what the Boston Host Committee believed were FIFA regulations prohibiting it.

What led to the reversal of the tailgating ban for the 2026 World Cup?

The reversal occurred after FIFA clarified that it does not have a policy banning tailgating, prompting Boston 26 to update its stance.

Where will tailgating be allowed during the 2026 World Cup?

Tailgating will be allowed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during the World Cup matches.

What did the Boston Host Committee say about their previous understanding of tailgating rules?

The Boston Host Committee stated that their previous understanding was based on FIFA's communication, which they believed indicated a tournament-wide ban on tailgating.