Boston Stadium’s – Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener featuring Scotland and Haiti, Gillette Stadium is temporarily branded as “Boston Stadium” and has undergone major changes for international soccer—most notably replacing synthetic turf with grass for the first time in 20
FOXBOROUGH — Just outside the gates of what most New England fans still call Gillette Stadium, a 12-foot bronze statue of Tom Brady keeps watch. But beyond that familiar landmark, the venue looks less like the home of the Patriots and more like a site being remade for the world stage.
For the next few weeks. Gillette Stadium has been renamed “Boston Stadium” as it prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The change is visible immediately. Patriots-related signage and other brands and logos have been tarped over, blotted out, or removed in advance of the tournament. Even the six championship banners that hang over the south scoreboard remain. but the overall look of the stadium has shifted to match FIFA’s hosting rules.
That work reaches a turning point on Saturday night, when World Cup play begins at the venue with an opening match between Scotland and Haiti.
One of the most noticeable upgrades is the playing surface. For the first time in 20 years, Gillette Stadium has a grass field—what FIFA calls the pitch—in place. FIFA requires that every venue hosting international soccer have a grass surface. Of the 11 host stadiums in the US that will host FIFA World Cup matches over the next few months. seven of them have synthetic turf. including Gillette Stadium before the change. Replacing the surface has been a months-long undertaking by both FIFA and Gillette Stadium officials. with grounds crews working against New England’s unpredictable spring weather.
Greg Whately, the venue pitch manager, said he was proud of what was built for international competition. “I’m really proud,” Whately said of the grass field, which is made up of both bluegrass and ryegrass. “This is the pinnacle for any player. We’re giving them the stage to perform, so we have to give them the proper stage.”.
The grass is not just a headline—it’s a carefully measured detail. Whately said the blades have been cut down to nine-tenths of an inch.
After Saturday’s match ends, Whately expects the grounds crew to be working until 3 or 4 a.m. to get the field ready for the next round of games scheduled in Foxborough. “As soon as the final whistle goes. we’re going to be out there. repairing divots. mowing and fixing any kind of blemishes. ” he said.
The field is only part of the retooling. FIFA has augmented several areas of the arena, rearranging how media, teams, and fans will move through the venue.
The Patriots’ film room has been converted into FIFA’s press conference area. Whately’s renovations also include removing the cushioned seats designed to hold a full NFL roster and replacing them with more standard seats for media and soccer officials.
Inside the locker rooms, access is tighter. The Patriots’ locker room will be off limits for the teams set to call Boston Stadium home over the next few weeks. The New England Revolution’s locker room and the NFL visiting team’s locker room have been converted into the two dressing areas of World Cup clubs.
Outside. the fan experience has been built out as well. even as temporary fencing. barriers. and checkpoints carve through the grounds. Nearly 200 volunteers are scheduled to be on hand for pre-game ceremonies on Saturday. with just about every corner of the pitch expected to be involved in the pomp.
A Stadium Fan Experience zone is also planned just outside Boston Stadium. It includes a giant video board, food trucks, and other amenities. The zone will open three hours before kickoff, close a half-hour before the game begins, and then re-open for fans two hours after the game ends.
After years of planning—five, six, seven, eight years, Whately said—the final steps are underway in Foxborough. “A lot of planning and a lot of research has gone into this over the last five. six. seven. eight years. ” Whately said. “The pressure is there, but we’re fully confident that we are going to have the answers that we need. Can’t wait for it to start to be honest.”.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Boston Stadium Gillette Stadium Scotland vs Haiti Tom Brady statue grass pitch bluegrass ryegrass pitch manager Greg Whately Foxborough press conference area fan experience zone