All seven World Cup games scheduled to be played this summer at the home of the New England Patriots remain in play as city leaders in Newsborough, Massachusetts, wait to find out who will cover nearly $8 million in projected security costs.

The Newsborough Select Board will not approve the licenses necessary for FIFA to occupy the stadium without a guarantee that the city will not have to foot the bill. The board, at its Feb. 17 meeting, stood firm on the sticking point and no progress appears to have been made.

The window to issue licenses is rapidly closing. The city set a deadline of March 17 to approve the licenses, given the preparation time needed to implement the safety plan.

All seven World Cup games scheduled to be played this summer at the home of the New England Patriots remain in play as city leaders in Foxborough, Massachusetts, wait to find out who will cover nearly $8 million in projected security costs.
All seven World Cup games scheduled to be played this summer at the home of the New England Patriots remain in play as city leaders in Newsborough, Massachusetts, wait to find out who will cover nearly $8 million in projected security costs.

Sportswire Icon via Getty Images

Although there are only seven matches, including a quarterfinal in Newsborough, the event’s organizer, FIFA, requires security to secure Gillette Stadium for the 39 days of the World Cup.

The event begins on June 11 and concludes on July 19. Games are scheduled to be played throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

Newsborough estimates the cost at $7.8 million, and town board members said they will not burden the small community’s taxpayers with the bill. The United States Census Bureau estimates that Newsborough has almost 19,000 residents.

Congress has approved $625 million in security and preparedness funding for the 11 host cities in the United States, but the locations have not yet seen it. Part of the reason is the partial government shutdown that has impacted the Department of Homeland Security. It is the organization that brings together the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will deliver the money.

The stadium is owned by The Kraft Group, founded by Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and the city owns the land beneath it. The group goes through the same process to obtain licenses for both the Patriots and the New England Revolution, the MLS team owned by Kraft. The Kraft Group pays the necessary funds up front and the board expects the World Cup organizers to do the same.

“The money has to be here. We’re a small city,” Stephanie McGowan, vice chairwoman of the Select Board, said at the recent meeting. “This is almost 10 percent of our entire annual budget. How can anyone expect us to (make the money) for someone (FIFA) who comes to our city for 39 days, making all these demands, and then you leave?”

“We can’t do that to our taxpayers. We wouldn’t be responsible.”

FIFA sent representatives to the February 17 meeting, but they did not give the board the guarantees it sought.

“I have to be honest with you, it baffles me that you are sitting here in front of me right now and we still have no idea where this money is coming from,” said board member Mark Elfman.