Fan Guide to Boston

Make the most of your match week in Boston: see more, stress less.

Introduction

Boston for World Cup 2026 Visitors

Boston is a compact, history-rich base for match week: easy to navigate by subway (“the T”), dense with museums and waterfront walks, and lively around Fenway and the Seaport between fixtures. Orientation is simple: Downtown, the Freedom Trail, and Boston Common form the core; the harborfront and North End sit to the east; Fenway/Kenmore and Back Bay are a quick hop on the Green Line. The official DMO highlights distinct, very walkable districts—from the café-lined Back Bay to the booming Seaport—plus quick links across the river to Cambridge. Pair that with reliable visitor guidance on the MBTA, and fans can stitch sightseeing, food halls, and pre-match meet-ups into one car-free day.

Fast Facts

Population (city/entidad): 673,458
Time zone: Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)
Airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS); Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT).
Currency: United States Dollar (USD).
Power & voltage: 120 V/60 Hz; plug types A & B are standard.
Weather snapshot (June–July): Typical highs/lows ~77°F/60°F in June and ~83°F/67°F in July at Logan Airport (1991–2020 normals).
Language: English
Drinking age: 21

The Pitch

Gillette Stadium

Gillette Stadium will host FIFA World Cup 26™ matches for the Boston region. It’s an open-air venue in Foxborough, southwest of Boston, and the home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. FIFA and the host committee confirm seven matches here, ranging from the group stage through a quarter-final; tournament-specific seating configurations are managed by FIFA (capacity details are typically released closer to kickoff). FIFA requires natural-grass fields; U.S. NFL venues will install temporary grass surfaces for the tournament.

Stadium Basics

Location: One Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA 02035.
Surface: NFL season surface is FieldTurf; a temporary natural-grass pitch will be installed to meet FIFA requirements.
Getting there: MBTA Commuter Rail to Foxboro Station (event trains; short walk to the gates).
Bag policy & payments: Clear bags up to 12″ x 12″ x 6″ (or 1-gallon clear freezer bag); small clutches up to 6.5″ x 4.5″—check the stadium’s A-to-Z and bag policy pages before you go.

Full stadium details

Match dates in Boston

June 13, 2026 — Group Stage
June 16, 2026 — Group Stage
June 19, 2026 — Group Stage
June 23, 2026 — Group Stage
June 26, 2026 — Group Stage
June 29, 2026 — Round of 32
July 9, 2026 — Quarter Final

Inside Boston

Districts & Vibes

Use Meet Boston’s neighborhood map to “stack” a day: Back Bay for Newbury Street shopping and Copley Square architecture, then a Green Line hop to Fenway/Kenmore for ballpark energy and major museums, finishing on Lansdowne Street’s bars. Another combo pairs Downtown/Waterfront—walk the Freedom Trail and Harborwalk—with the Seaport’s modern skyline and evening patios. For old-world streets and pastry breaks, thread Beacon Hill’s gaslit lanes into the North End and finish at the harbor.

Global Eats, Local Pours

Boston’s Food & Drink Hit List

Between matches, graze Boston’s big tent: Boston Public Market for local vendors and grab-and-go bites; Time Out Market for chef stalls under one roof; and Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market for classic, quick-serve variety steps from the Freedom Trail. For sun and sea breezes, the Seaport’s waterfront esplanade strings together patios and harbor views, with easy access to the ICA and Harborwalk. In the evening, pivot to the North End’s Italian corridor for espresso and cannoli before or after a stroll along the Greenway.

Iconic Boston

Must-Sees Between Matches

Start at Boston Common and the Public Garden, then follow the red-brick Freedom Trail past Faneuil Hall and the Old State House toward the North End. The National Park Service marks the route and sites, so you can dip in for quick photo stops or longer museum visits as time allows.

For museum time, anchor at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum near Fenway, then pivot to the New England Aquarium on the harbor and the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport for waterfront views. If you prefer sports history, Fenway Park offers official tours; for maritime lore, the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown is a short hop by ferry or subway.

Discover Boston Through

Local Experiences & Tours

Boston Harbor City Cruises runs narrated harbor cruises and island ferries that slot neatly between fixtures. On land, Boston Duck Tours’ amphibious rides cover city highlights fast, while Urban AdvenTours leads guided bike loops on protected paths and riverside routes. Prefer to guide yourself? The Freedom Trail Foundation offers official tours, and the City’s public-art resources make DIY walks simple; major museums like the MFA also run docent-led tours—check daily schedules.

Keep the Party Going

Fan-Friendly Nightlife

For buzzy sports-adjacent nights, Lansdowne Street by Fenway clusters bars and music venues steps from the ballpark; Back Bay adds late-night options near Copley and Newbury Street. Downtown and the Seaport offer the easiest stadium-week meet-ups, with big patios and waterfront views near transit. On game-free nights, the West End’s TD Garden area is built for pre/post-game crowds, with Canal Street pubs and arena-adjacent hangouts.