The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plans to raise round‑trip train fares from central Boston to Gillette Stadium dramatically for the 2026 World Cup.
The MBTA normally charges $20 for return tickets for special events such as NFL, MLS matches or concerts. At a recent exhibition match between France and Brazil at Gillette in Foxboro, the fare was increased to $30 — a 50% rise — with no concessions and requirements that children under 11 hold valid tickets. Sources familiar with planning say fares for World Cup matches could be around or above $75 per person for the roughly 27‑mile trip from Boston South station to the stadium — more than triple the usual event price. The MBTA plans to announce its fare programs by April 8.
Gillette Stadium, owned by the Kraft Group and home to the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, seats about 65,000 and is scheduled to host seven World Cup matches, including a round‑of‑32 game and a quarter‑final. Group‑stage fixtures at Gillette include Scotland’s matches vs Haiti and Morocco, England vs Ghana, and Norway vs France.
The MBTA said it is investing $35 million to upgrade Foxboro Station ahead of the World Cup, including making it fully accessible, and intends to run unprecedented service — mobilizing up to 20,000 riders to and from each match. Sources close to the MBTA say the station upgrades and extra service have come at significant cost, and fare increases are being considered to help cover those expenses.
Supporters say the higher transport fares add to already steep costs for attending the tournament, on top of expensive World Cup tickets and surging hotel prices. The Football Supporters Association (FSA), representing fans in England and Wales, urged Boston to reconsider the planned pricing and offer fans “a fair deal.” The FSA noted that ticket‑holders at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 European Championship in Germany had free public transport on match days, and said the new charges risk exploiting loyal fans who have already paid heavily to attend.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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