FIFA licensing delays threaten Massachusetts’ World Cup party plans

Another "first" (of a few in this case) as Franklin, through the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau is one of the 2 FIFA permits authorized for a "watch party", currently scheduled for June 24 & June 25 for the Town Common. 

"This spring, the Healey administration awarded $10 million in grants to support World Cup celebrations in more than two dozen communities, hailing them as an opportunity for more people to share in the excitement without having to buy tickets to Gillette Stadium.

The party planners got to work: They imagined parks and town greens packed with soccer-crazed crowds, lined with food vendors, and anchored by towering screens broadcasting live World Cup matches in real time. The grants were intended to support World Cup-related celebrations in 25 cities and towns through June and July.

There’s just one bottleneck: FIFA, soccer’s powerful global governing body, has so far granted public viewing licenses to just two of the 17 organizations planning viewing events and other festivities, and with the start of the games fast approaching, it is unclear whether many of them will take place at all. Two municipalities have decided not to go forward with plans.

Without those approvals, municipalities cannot legally show the matches in public, leaving many local organizers frozen in place — unable to lock in vendors, rent giant screens, hire security, or recruit volunteers."

Continue reading the article on line: 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/13/metro/its-maddening-fifa-licensing-delays-threaten-massachusetts-world-cup-party-plans/?et_rid=1745607262&s_campaign=todaysheadlines:newsletter

More about the watch party or fan zone on the Town Common 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/metrowest-regional-fan-zones-announced.html

Franklin Welcomes the World - June 25 & June 26 (part 2)

Community Engagement on the Town Common & Haywood Manor Beer Garden Overview

Geared towards community organizations and businesses. Tier 2 builds on Tier 1 by providing a physical presence at the festivities events on the Franklin Town Common and/or Haywood Manor Beer Garden; giving businesses and organizations the opportunity to host community-focused activities during the events, or sell their retail goodies on June 25–26. All Tier 1 benefits apply, including inclusion in the digital hub, print guide, and town-wide promotion.

Types of Community Engagement:

Vendors

•  Vendors participate to sell goods or services directly to the public at events on the Town Common or at Haywood Manor.
•  Examples include: food trucks, retail vendors, artisans selling handmade goods, or small businesses offering products.

Community Partners

•  Community partners pay for a space to host an activity, demonstrate their mission, or engage the public—not to sell products.
•  Examples include: local nonprofits, arts organizations, cultural associations, youth programs, educational groups, or civic clubs.

Fee Information

•  Vendor and community partner fees will vary based on the type of participation.
•  Fees and official registration will be published on the Town of Franklin website by March 1st.

Fee Purpose

Vendor and community partner fees help cover essential event costs; including the FIFA public viewing license required to stream the matches legally, as well as police/security details for the events.

Special Note – Farmers Market Vendors

Vendors already approved for the Franklin Farmers Market may participate in community engagement events without paying an additional fee. DACCE will coordinate with market staff to ensure vendor placement, setup times, and operations align with both market and watch party activities.

Participation & Submission for Vendor & Community Partners

Email Cory Shea, to be alerted of when the community engagement and vendor application officially opens on the Town of Franklin website.

Download the playbook for both Part 1 & Part 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Xa9h_6rTqvmZJ9dnASwz1y39m4rGPrn/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin Welcomes The World - June 25 & June 26

The Town of Franklin will host two days of festivities celebrating the international soccer games playing at neighboring Gillette Stadium. These events will take place on June 25 and June 26 on the Franklin Town Common and at one of our community partner locations, Haywood Manor.

The festivities will include live streamed games on a large screen; enabling viewing from the Town Common and the Haywood lawn; as well as community vendors, food trucks and live music. These free, community-centered days are designed to create a welcoming, festive atmosphere for residents and visitors while supporting downtown activity and cultural tourism.

Programming is also part of the broader ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ marketing campaign, reinforcing Franklin’s role as a regional gathering place during a global event.

Viewing party & Community Engagement Primary Location:

Franklin Town Common & Hayward Manor

LED screen viewing area with open lawn seating at Haywood Manor; will host outdoor viewing, including a beer garden component (pending licensing and approvals).

Watch Party/Festivity Timeline: 3-9pm June 25th+26th Streamed games:

Thursday, June 25

•   4pm Ecuador v Germany
•   7pm Tunisia v Netherlands
•   10pm USA - Go watch elsewhere!   

Friday, June 26

•   3pm Norway v France
•   8pm Uruguay v Spain

Community Engagement Elements | Vendors & Community Partners

Presented on the Town Common and Haywood Manor. Note that the beer garden is at Haywood Manor only, and no alcohol is permitted on the Town Common.

• Live music performances before and/or after matches
• Community Partners/Vendors on the Town Common
• Food trucks
• Wayfinding and signage connecting the Common, downtown, and partner locations + ‘Franklin Welcomes the World’ marketing campaign

Estimated Attendance

Projected total attendance: 1,000–1,500 visitors over two days, Audience includes: Franklin residents, Regional visitors attending Gillette matches,

Families, young adults, and soccer fans.