FRANKLIN/MARLBOROUGH – The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau has been awarded an additional $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to support public safety costs associated with the upcoming MetroWest Regional Fan Zones celebrating the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.
The new funding builds upon an earlier $120,000 state grant, bringing total state support for the project to $170,000. The Fan Zones, which will be held in Marlborough from June 11-13 and Franklin from June 24-25, are among only a handful of officially licensed FIFA World Cup™ public viewing events in Massachusetts. Organizers expect the events to attract thousands of visitors and feature giant-screen match broadcasts, food trucks, local vendors, arts and crafts exhibitors, family activities, live entertainment, and beer gardens. Event organizers say the initiative has grown into a regional collaboration involving local municipalities, chambers of commerce, businesses, and cultural organizations, all aimed at showcasing MetroWest communities during one of the world’s largest sporting events. Free tickets and additional event information are available through the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau.
