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High Demand for MBTA Train Tickets to 2026 World Cup Matches at Gillette Stadium
Fans purchased 17,450 roundtrip MBTA train tickets on the first day of sales for matches at Gillette Stadium, labeled Boston Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The sales surpassed previous records set by Taylor Swift concerts in 2024. Tickets cost $80 each and require proof of a match ticket.
Apr 1, 6:00 AM·2m read3 sources
The Boston GlobeAudio version
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Fans bought 17,450 roundtrip MBTA train tickets on the first day of sales for transportation to 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority reported that 11,000 tickets sold in the first hour, including 5,000 in the first 10 minutes. This marked the highest rate of special event ticket sales in MBTA history.
Each ticket costs $80 and provides roundtrip service between South Station in Boston and Foxborough. Passengers must present proof of a valid match ticket to board. The service also allows travel on the full commuter rail network on match days.
A maximum of 20,000 tickets is available per match day. The June 13 match between Haiti and Scotland generated 6,200 ticket sales, exceeding records for any single event at Gillette Stadium, including past Taylor Swift concerts and the Army-Navy game. Boston's large Haitian population contributed to demand for this match.
The first-hour sales outpaced the 2024 Taylor Swift concert ticket releases, where the second round sold 1,800 tickets in two minutes and the first round sold 3,600 between midnight and 8 a.
m. The World Cup sales reflect strong interest in the seven matches scheduled at Gillette Stadium in June and July 2026. Organizers label the venue Boston Stadium for FIFA purposes. Philip Eng, acting secretary of transportation and general manager of the MBTA, stated that the authority expanded capacity to meet demand.
“This is the highest rate of MBTA special event tickets ever sold in one hour.”
The region anticipates up to 2 million visitors during the tournament, coinciding with July 4 celebrations for the U.S. 250th anniversary, Boston Harborfest, and Sail250, an international tall ships gathering. Local organizers reduced fundraising projections to $100 million from $170 million in 2023.
