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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching and Gillette Stadium — known as "Boston Stadium" for the tournament — set to host matches, excitement across New England is building. But so are soccer fans' concerns about navigating the ticket market and ensuring a smooth fan experience.
Longtime Boston ticket broker John Higgins, the owner of Higs Tickets on Causeway Street across from TD Garden, has a clear message — fans need to be cautious, informed and prepared.
“The biggest thing right now is ticket security,” Higgins said. “There’s so much fraud out there with major international events like the World Cup. The only way to guarantee your ticket is legitimate is to have it transferred through the FIFA app. Screenshots won’t work. Links won’t work. The ticket has to live in your FIFA account.”
There are five group stage matches to be played at Gillette Stadium, starting on Saturday, June 13. A Round of 32 match is set for Monday, June 29, and a quarterfinal match on Thursday, July 9.
The semifinals are scheduled Tuesday, July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta. The final will be Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
For fans still hoping to secure tickets, options remain — but they come with caveats. Direct purchases through FIFA are now limited, with only sporadic ticket drops, Higgins noted.
For those simply looking to be part of the World Cup atmosphere in Foxboro without spending top dollar, there are more affordable matchups, though none are cheap.
On Tuesday, June 16, a match featuring Norway and Iraq could offer entry into the tournament for $300 or less with a chance to see Manchester City star Erling Haaland play for Norway. By contrast, high-demand games — particularly France vs. Norway and the knockout round games — are commanding prices closer to $900 just for upper-level seating.
Higgins recommends turning to trusted, local ticket brokers and relying on secure payment methods.
“Always use a credit card," Higgins said. "That gives you protection if something goes wrong. And stay off Craigslist or social media deals — there are too many scams.”
Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and Gametime are all known as reliable ticket resellers. FIFA is also offering ticket resales on its website.
Market trends suggest some potential relief for buyers.
“Prices have already come down from what they were a couple months ago,” Higgins said. “I think they could continue to drop slightly in the next couple weeks, especially for less in-demand matches. But for games like France, I wouldn’t expect much movement.”
One New Hampshire high school boys soccer coach bought tickets in the upper level for the Norway vs. Iraq match in April, and paid $600 via Ticketmaster. Comparable seats are now selling for $300 on the secondary market.
"As a soccer fan, it's an opportunity of a lifetime to take part in this event, and it's kind of in our backyard," said Nick Rowe, who played college soccer at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont and has been head coach at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton for 15 years. "I didn't want to pass up this opportunity. I thought at the time $600 was a reasonable enough price to be a part of this event."
Nick O'Brien, who coached the Winnacunnet girls soccer team to a Division I state championship last fall, bought tickets for him and his wife for the Norway vs. Iraq match directly through FIFA. He paid around $600 for two tickets in the lower level.
"We're able to get decently priced tickets for this game," said O'Brien. "Watching the World Cup is theater, it's really unique. All the professional soccer players around the world essentially take a pause when their team makes it to the World Cup. It's all pride and passion, it's going to be awesome."
When does the World Cup start?: Schedule and how to watch 2026 tournament
O'Brien and his wife also have tickets for the Ivory Coast vs. Curacao match in Philadelphia on Thursday, June 25. O'Brien paid in the neighborhood of $700 for the pair, adding he got better seats than he bought for the game at Gillette.
Higgins says security protocols will likely mirror other global events, with enforcement extending well beyond the stadium gates.
“There are essentially three checkpoints,” he explained. “First, if you’re parking within the secured perimeter — and Homeland Security controls that — you’ll need to show a valid ticket just to access those lots. Then there’s a second checkpoint where your ticket gets scanned before you even reach the stadium. And finally, there’s the traditional entry point where it’s scanned again.”
More: Fans face $95 shuttle cost to reach Boston Stadium for World Cup
Those layers could bring a new level of complexity to what Patriots fans are used to on game day — something that raises broader questions about logistics and the overall fan experience.
“I just hope we don’t screw it up,” Higgins said candidly. “The hype is there, but transportation, parking, getting in and out — those are all real concerns. People are expecting a world-class experience.”
The last time the World Cup was played in the United States and in Foxboro was in 1994. That tournament, won by Brazil, left a lasting impression — particularly when Argentina and Diego Maradona drew massive crowds in two matches at Foxboro.
“It was like a cult following,” said Higgins, who was selling sausages in the parking lot of old Foxboro Stadium during the 1994 tournament. “I’ve never seen anything like that before or since. And I think we might see something similar again, maybe with a player like (Kylian) Mbappé."
Mbappé plays for Real Madrid in La Liga, the top level of professional soccer in Spain, and captains the France national team. France's lone scheduled game in Foxboro is against Norway on Friday, June 26.
"The hype (for the 2026 tournament) has been building for nearly a year,” Higgins said. “It reminds me a little of 1994.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Boston expert's advice on buying World Cup 2026 tickets at Gillette
Continue reading...
Longtime Boston ticket broker John Higgins, the owner of Higs Tickets on Causeway Street across from TD Garden, has a clear message — fans need to be cautious, informed and prepared.
“The biggest thing right now is ticket security,” Higgins said. “There’s so much fraud out there with major international events like the World Cup. The only way to guarantee your ticket is legitimate is to have it transferred through the FIFA app. Screenshots won’t work. Links won’t work. The ticket has to live in your FIFA account.”
There are five group stage matches to be played at Gillette Stadium, starting on Saturday, June 13. A Round of 32 match is set for Monday, June 29, and a quarterfinal match on Thursday, July 9.
The semifinals are scheduled Tuesday, July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta. The final will be Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
How do I get tickets for World Cup games at Gillette Stadium? What's a cost-effective match?
For fans still hoping to secure tickets, options remain — but they come with caveats. Direct purchases through FIFA are now limited, with only sporadic ticket drops, Higgins noted.
For those simply looking to be part of the World Cup atmosphere in Foxboro without spending top dollar, there are more affordable matchups, though none are cheap.
On Tuesday, June 16, a match featuring Norway and Iraq could offer entry into the tournament for $300 or less with a chance to see Manchester City star Erling Haaland play for Norway. By contrast, high-demand games — particularly France vs. Norway and the knockout round games — are commanding prices closer to $900 just for upper-level seating.
How do you avoid scams when buying World Cup tickets?
Higgins recommends turning to trusted, local ticket brokers and relying on secure payment methods.
“Always use a credit card," Higgins said. "That gives you protection if something goes wrong. And stay off Craigslist or social media deals — there are too many scams.”
Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek and Gametime are all known as reliable ticket resellers. FIFA is also offering ticket resales on its website.
Gillette Stadium World Cup schedule
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- Group stage (Match 5): Saturday, June 13 - Haiti vs. Scotland (9 p.m.)
- Group stage (Match 18): Tuesday, June 16 - Norway vs. Iraq (6 p.m.)
- Group stage (Match 30): Thursday, June 19 - Scotland vs. Morocco (6 p.m.)
- Group stage (Match 45): Tuesday, June 23 - England vs. Ghana (4 p.m.)
- Group stage (Match 63): Friday, June 26 - Norway vs. France (3 p.m.)
- Round of 32 (Match 75): Monday, June 29 - TBD v TBD (4:30 p.m.)
- Quarterfinal (Match 98): Thursday, July 9 - TBD v TBD (4 p.m.)
Are ticket prices likely to drop for any World Cup games at Gillette? When is best time to buy?
Market trends suggest some potential relief for buyers.
“Prices have already come down from what they were a couple months ago,” Higgins said. “I think they could continue to drop slightly in the next couple weeks, especially for less in-demand matches. But for games like France, I wouldn’t expect much movement.”
One New Hampshire high school boys soccer coach bought tickets in the upper level for the Norway vs. Iraq match in April, and paid $600 via Ticketmaster. Comparable seats are now selling for $300 on the secondary market.
"As a soccer fan, it's an opportunity of a lifetime to take part in this event, and it's kind of in our backyard," said Nick Rowe, who played college soccer at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont and has been head coach at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton for 15 years. "I didn't want to pass up this opportunity. I thought at the time $600 was a reasonable enough price to be a part of this event."
Nick O'Brien, who coached the Winnacunnet girls soccer team to a Division I state championship last fall, bought tickets for him and his wife for the Norway vs. Iraq match directly through FIFA. He paid around $600 for two tickets in the lower level.
"We're able to get decently priced tickets for this game," said O'Brien. "Watching the World Cup is theater, it's really unique. All the professional soccer players around the world essentially take a pause when their team makes it to the World Cup. It's all pride and passion, it's going to be awesome."
When does the World Cup start?: Schedule and how to watch 2026 tournament
O'Brien and his wife also have tickets for the Ivory Coast vs. Curacao match in Philadelphia on Thursday, June 25. O'Brien paid in the neighborhood of $700 for the pair, adding he got better seats than he bought for the game at Gillette.
What type of security can fans expect at Gillette Stadium?
Higgins says security protocols will likely mirror other global events, with enforcement extending well beyond the stadium gates.
“There are essentially three checkpoints,” he explained. “First, if you’re parking within the secured perimeter — and Homeland Security controls that — you’ll need to show a valid ticket just to access those lots. Then there’s a second checkpoint where your ticket gets scanned before you even reach the stadium. And finally, there’s the traditional entry point where it’s scanned again.”
More: Fans face $95 shuttle cost to reach Boston Stadium for World Cup
Those layers could bring a new level of complexity to what Patriots fans are used to on game day — something that raises broader questions about logistics and the overall fan experience.
“I just hope we don’t screw it up,” Higgins said candidly. “The hype is there, but transportation, parking, getting in and out — those are all real concerns. People are expecting a world-class experience.”
What could this year's World Cup look like?
The last time the World Cup was played in the United States and in Foxboro was in 1994. That tournament, won by Brazil, left a lasting impression — particularly when Argentina and Diego Maradona drew massive crowds in two matches at Foxboro.
“It was like a cult following,” said Higgins, who was selling sausages in the parking lot of old Foxboro Stadium during the 1994 tournament. “I’ve never seen anything like that before or since. And I think we might see something similar again, maybe with a player like (Kylian) Mbappé."
Mbappé plays for Real Madrid in La Liga, the top level of professional soccer in Spain, and captains the France national team. France's lone scheduled game in Foxboro is against Norway on Friday, June 26.
"The hype (for the 2026 tournament) has been building for nearly a year,” Higgins said. “It reminds me a little of 1994.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Boston expert's advice on buying World Cup 2026 tickets at Gillette
Continue reading...
