(781) 343-7277
reservations@localmotionofboston.com
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to Boston this summer, and with seven matches scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough from June 13 through July 9, the region is preparing for one of the most significant influxes of visitors in its history. Whether you are a local fan planning your match day or a traveler coming in from out of town, getting to the stadium is one of the most important logistics decisions you will make before the opening whistle blows.
Boston has a well-established public transit system, and the MBTA has put considerable planning into its World Cup service. But transit alone does not work for everyone. Groups, corporate hospitality clients, families, and visitors staying outside the city center may find that a charter bus is the smarter and more comfortable option. Here is what you need to know about both.
Getting to Boston Stadium: The Big Picture
Gillette Stadium sits in Foxborough, Massachusetts, roughly 22 miles south of downtown Boston. The stadium is not directly connected to the regular MBTA subway network, and there is no standard bus service to the venue on match days. For most fans, the journey to Gillette will require either the special MBTA commuter rail train service, a charter bus, a rideshare, or a car, each with its own set of tradeoffs.
FIFA and stadium officials are recommending that fans arrive at least three hours before kickoff. Security screening for an event of this scale takes significantly more time than a regular Patriots or Revolution game, and the volume of people entering the venue will be unlike anything Foxborough has seen. Plan accordingly.
The Boston Stadium Train
The MBTA has created a dedicated service for World Cup match days called the Boston Stadium Train. These are express trains running between South Station in downtown Boston and Foxboro Station, which sits right next to the stadium. The ride takes approximately one hour, and 14 trains will run on each match day.
Round-trip tickets are priced at $80 and are sold exclusively through the MBTA’s mTicket app. Tickets are also valid on the entire Commuter Rail network on match days, giving fans flexibility in how they connect to South Station from different parts of the region. Importantly, all passengers including children must hold a valid ticket, and tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. Once each match’s allocation sells out, no additional tickets will be available.
All fans will need a valid match ticket to purchase a Boston Stadium Train ticket. The MBTA has assigned boarding groups, and fans are advised to arrive at South Station well in advance of their assigned boarding time. The trains will return to South Station after the match, with departures beginning approximately 30 minutes after the final whistle.
This is the only MBTA service going directly to the stadium on match days. There is no subway or standard bus service to Boston Stadium.
Getting to South Station
For fans who need to reach South Station before boarding the Boston Stadium Train, the MBTA’s regular subway lines provide straightforward access. The Red Line, Silver Line, and Commuter Rail all serve South Station directly. On match days, the MBTA is extending subway service on the Red, Orange, Green, and Blue lines until 2 AM on weekday match nights, and until 4 AM following the Saturday, June 13 match. This extended service is designed to help fans returning from Foxborough make their subway and bus connections back into the city.
Several bus routes will also run extended service on match days, including the Silver Line routes SL1, SL3, and SL5, as well as bus routes 1, 22, 39, 66, and 110. Bus routes 23, 28, 57, 111, and 116 run extended hours seven days a week throughout the tournament window.
The Fan Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza
Not everyone attending World Cup events in Boston will be heading to the stadium. The FIFA Fan Festival is scheduled to take place at Boston City Hall Plaza throughout the tournament, offering free entry, giant screens broadcasting all matches, food and entertainment, and a full celebration of international soccer culture. Getting to City Hall Plaza is straightforward via the MBTA subway. The Green and Blue Lines both stop at Government Center station, which sits directly at City Hall Plaza. The Orange Line stops at State or Haymarket, each about a five-minute walk away. The Red Line to Downtown Crossing is roughly a ten-minute walk, or fans can transfer to the Green Line at Park Street.
When Public Transit Is Not the Right Answer
Public transit is a solid option for individual fans and small groups. But for larger parties, corporate groups, visiting organizations, and families traveling together, the Boston Stadium Train presents real logistical challenges. Tickets sell out. Boarding groups must be coordinated. Return trains leave on a set schedule after the match, and missing the last train means figuring out alternatives in Foxborough with tens of thousands of other fans doing the same thing.
For groups of any meaningful size, a charter bus offers something the train cannot: your own schedule, your own space, and a driver who knows exactly where you are going and how to get there. Local Motion of Boston provides group charter transportation throughout Greater Boston and all of New England, and our team has been moving groups to major events across the region for over 25 years. We know the routes, we know the traffic, and we know how to get your group to Gillette and back without the uncertainty that comes with coordinating a large party on crowded public transit.
Whether you are organizing transportation for a corporate hospitality group, a supporters club, a hotel shuttle, or a private party of family and friends, Local Motion has the fleet and the experience to handle it. View our fleet options and find the right vehicle for your group size and needs.
Plan Ahead for Every Option
Regardless of how you plan to get to the stadium, the single most important thing you can do is plan early. Boston Stadium Train tickets are limited and expected to sell out. Charter bus availability for match days will also go quickly as summer approaches. The FIFA World Cup is a once-in-a-generation event for this region, and the demand for every form of transportation will reflect that.
If you are traveling with a group and want the most reliable, comfortable, and coordinated experience possible, contact Local Motion of Boston to discuss your transportation needs. You can also start a quote online to get the conversation going. The matches are coming fast, and the best time to lock in your group’s transportation is right now.
