The 2026 FIFA World Cup in Massachusetts has been beset by difficulties, with Boston lagging behind most comparable U.S. host cities. The city's Fan Festival location, City Hall Plaza, was only announced in February and only for approximately 16 days, a significant backtrack from FIFA's preference for tournament-long activities. The town of Foxborough is threatening to deny an entertainment license for Gillette Stadium unless the Boston Soccer 2026 host committee provides nearly $8 million in up-front security funding by next week. The host committee currently holds just $2 million in cash. Meanwhile, $46 million in federal grant money the state is eligible for remains frozen. The World Cup was supposed to be a regional showcase, but instead Boston has been singled out as "the most fraught" among all 16 worldwide.