Soccer fans in Boston got their first glimpse Thursday of what will be screened around the city in the summer of 2026, when it will host millions of fans for the World Cup.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Governor Maura Healey and others unveiled branding for the 2026 World Cup host city of Boston, including the official logo and tagline.
“We are ready to host this major global event,” Healey said. “There is nothing like the World Cup.”
Boston will host 4-6 games during the cup.
The logo for the entire tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, was unveiled in Los Angeles on Wednesday by Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The logo features the numbers 2 and 6 stacked vertically, with the official trophy imposed on top, and is accompanied by the hashtag #WeAre26.
The Boston version features yellow, green and blue colors and the catchphrase “We Are Boston”.
Boston, via Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, is one of 16 host cities for the tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time, meaning there will be 104 games throughout the tournament. Foxboro was also a host city for the 1994 World Cup, and Gillette Stadium is home to the New England Revolution, the area’s Major League Soccer team.
Kraft said Thursday’s event reminded him of the 1994 edition, which he was also a part of. He said that, working on the 2026 bid, he was “making sure Boston gets the most games, a minimum of six,” before pausing and asking, “Am I not supposed to say that?”
He added that he would bet Boston gets more.
If the 104 games were divided evenly among all the host cities, they would each host six and a half games.
16 venues in North America will host matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Organizers estimate that the 2026 World Cup will attract 450,000 people to the city and an economic boost of $500 million. They noted that while the US, Mexico and Canada have already qualified for the tournament as hosts, FIFA will not determine which teams will play where until qualifying is finalized, a few months before the tournament kicks off on June 8.
Joining Kraft, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada 2026 World Cup bid honorary chair, and Healey at the opening Thursday on Big Night Live were Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz , New England Revolution President Brian Bilello, and more.
Argentina will enter the 2026 tournament as defending champions after winning the World Cup in Qatar in a penalty shootout last winter. The 2023 Women’s World Cup will take place this summer in Australia and New Zealand.
The United States men’s soccer team got a boost this week when young striker Folarin Balogun, a New York City native, committed to playing for the red, white and blue, despite being eligible to play for England. or Nigerian. It’s a position the talented young team, who surprised some pundits by coming out of the group stage in Qatar, needed to improve on.
2023-05-18 21:08:48
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