Robert Kraft Explains The Reasoning Behind Hosting The World Cup At Gillette Stadium Come 2026

Robert Kraft recently held a Gillette Stadium press conference where he announced the stadium’s intentions to host six 2026 World Cup games. The Foxborough Stadium hosted six World Cup games in 1994.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made improvements to Foxborough Stadium’s field in 1994 to host the World Cup. As a condition for Gillette Stadium hosting the 2026 World Cup, Kraft will have to implement comparable short-term improvements. The current synthetic turf will be removed and replaced to make way for a greener playing surface for the Patriots. Management will revive an irrigation system that has been installed but is rarely used to maintain the area.

The sideline seating will need to be rearranged to accommodate the field and the surrounding space. Kraft hopes to find a balance that will allow enough area around the field while still maximizing stadium seating capacity. While addressing the conference at Gillette Stadium, FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani serves as the CONCACAF President. Smith and Montagliani began a nine-city tour at the conference. Montagliani praised Kraft’s performance at the conference.

When Boston/Foxborough is formally chosen to host the 2026 World Cup games, it isn’t yet certain which teams will play there. The stadiums under consideration and some of them may need more structural changes to meet field-width criteria than Gillette.

Stadium officials are hopeful that FIFA officials will be open to a compromise on the required dimensions because of the reduced seating capacity. The likelihood of the 2026 World Cup being held in New England is high, according to Robert Kraft, so long as Gillette’s bid to host those six games is successful.

Due to Kraft’s position as honorary head of the United Bid Group for the 2026 World Cup, the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts is widely regarded as the front-runner among the 17 stadiums in the United States that are competing for 11 spots on the final list. The first stop on the FIFA tour of the United States was Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, where officials began their nine-city journey.

Robert Kraft is a multi-billionaire businessman from the United States. He’s the chairman and CEO of Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with several interests, including real estate and sports.

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Learn more about Kraft on https://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-kraft/

Robert Kraft recently held a Gillette Stadium press conference where he announced the stadium’s intentions to host six 2026 World Cup games. The Foxborough Stadium hosted six World Cup games in 1994. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made improvements to Foxborough Stadium’s field in 1994 to host the World Cup. As a condition for…