Boston stays cool as World Cup nears, locals expect noise near Foxborough | OneFootball

Boston, host city for the France team, feels strikingly detached three days before the first World Cup match in nearby Foxborough.

According to L'Équipe, the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, 35 kilometres from Boston, will stage seven matches, beginning with Haiti v Scotland in the night from Saturday to Sunday at three am French time, 21.00 local time. It will also host France’s third match, against Norway, on 26 June.

On the waterfront and through downtown, life has a light, early-summer ease. Beyond a fan zone and pockets of Scottish purple, signs of the tournament are scarce. There is even a sense the France squad could slip out between sessions for a jog without fuss.

Residents cited ticket prices as a genuine barrier, while the long-standing visa stance under President Donald Trump was not viewed as decisive. One Bostonian, Kevin, felt football is not embedded here, the national team is poor, and any buzz would be limited to pubs.

George, another local, believed the noise would be out by the stadium, with tailgate barbecues, singing and dancing. In the city, he said, do not expect the locals to set the mood, that may depend on travelling supporters.

Source: L'Équipe