Wu weighs in on battle between Foxborough and Kraft Group

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Town officials in Foxborough have local World Cup organizers by the soccer balls. Their demand for money upfront to cover security costs received an assist 30 miles away Tuesday when Boston Mayor Michelle Wu weighed in the battle for possession of the funds.

Asked by GBH radio host Jim Braude if she backed Foxborough’s strategy to withhold a key entertainment license unless they get the funding from organizers, Wu said, “Yes.”

Wu is familiar with city officials standing their ground. The uproar over the World Cup recalls a failed bid to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to Boston. Wu as a city councilor said she was keeping an open mind, but wanted more information and transparency from organizers at the time.

The back-and-forth on the World Cup during her GBH appearance came after a three-byline story in the Boston Globe, headlined “Boston’s bold dream of hosting World Cup is on shaky ground.” The organizing committee is called “Boston Soccer 26,” the matches are taking place inside Foxborough’s suburban Gillette Stadium, which is owned by the Kraft Group, while Boston plans a fan festival on City Hall Plaza.

State and local officials have been smiling at public events touting the massive event, which could generate more than $1 billion in economic activity. But behind the scenes, there has been unhappiness, and some privately blame Robert Kraft for not doing more to help the effort as it has struggled to raise money and clashed with Foxborough. The Kraft Group last week offered up a potential plan that involved backstopping Boston Soccer 26, which in turn would pay for safety costs within two business days, but Foxborough officials swatted it down.

The Globe report delved into what had been whispered for weeks and noted Boston Soccer 26’s disclosure that it had $2 million and plans on another $30 million rolling in as Foxborough is demanding nearly $8 million for security and equipment. Braude asked how much the committee has raised and where the money has gone. “I would assume if anybody would know other than the head of the committee it would be you,” he said to Wu. “I don’t have all that information,” the mayor responded.

“I think it’s unfortunate that we are still at this point in time having conversations about how to figure out the funding and financing of it,” Wu added. “It’s a huge opportunity for the entire region and the commonwealth. It’s going to be a really important economic boost, a chance to show Boston off to the entire world and to be a welcoming beacon.”

Boston is also counting on $23 million from the federal government, according to Wu, and she said she understands some of her counterparts want assurances that the money will come. “The bigger picture is that municipal governments and city budgets everywhere are already under strain from health care costs going up and other needs.”

“You seem much more frustrated than you’re saying,” Braude said.

Wu said there are “complicating factors” affecting the planning, but there are some things that were within the control of organizers.

“Politics is very much a part of how an event like this is being perceived, and being discussed around the world, and with different cities and their role in it,” she said. “There have been now multiple direct attacks and potentially illegal actions [by the Trump administration] that have caused other countries to want to pull away from sending any of their tourist dollars to the United States. It’s just an unnecessary moment of uncertainty because we’re in a larger moment and that makes the work all the more intense and all the more complex when we’re trying to do it.”

Braude also asked about how this could affect a potential Democratic National Convention being held in Boston in 2028, and Wu said, “I think there are a lot of people who know what they’re doing involved in that effort.” What do you think? And if you have memories of the 2004 Boston convention, as I do, drop me a line: [email protected].

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HAPPENING TODAY

9:00 | The Mass. Trial Court and Massasoit Community College host a Women's History Month conference, with Attorney General Andrea Campbell giving the keynote address. Campbell is among 10 women who will be honored at the event. | Skating Club of Boston, 750 University Ave., Norwood

9:30 | Plumbers, contractors and other industry leaders hold a rally for legislation to improve water conservation and safety, upgrade aging infrastructure, explore ways to boost clean energy and protect union trade jobs. | Senate Reading Room, State House, Boston

9:30 | MassDOT Finance and Audit Committee meets. Agenda includes a discussion of the fiscal 2026 mid-year operating budget report. | Agenda and Access

9:30 | Boston Mayor Michelle Wu delivers remarks at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute's 30th Annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace community briefing. | Hampshire House, 84 Beacon Street, Boston

10:00 | Gov. Maura Healey joins Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce for a government affairs forum. Her appearance comes as businesses weigh competitiveness, cost and labor market concerns. | Westin Boston Seaport, 425 Summer St., Boston | Register

11:00 | Congressman Richard Neal will join Darlene Rodowicz, President and CEO of Berkshire Healthy Systems, 1Berkshire, and local officials to discuss the state of health care in western Massachusetts, including impacts of new federal laws and immigration policies related to H-1B visas, a category of visa relied upon by rural hospitals. | Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Ave., Pittsfield

12:00 | Auditor Diana DiZoglio attends the Wilmington/Tewksbury Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting. | Luna Rossa, 1699 Shawsheen St., Tewksbury

8:00 | Dan Rea hosts Republican gubernatorial candidates for a two-hour conversation in the studio during his WBZ NightSide weeknight radio show. Candidates Mike Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve will be participating, but Mike Minogue has not committed, Rea's office confirmed. | WBZ NewsRadio 1030 AM

HEALEY’S CHAMBER SPEECH

Gov. Maura Healey plans to accentuate the positives of the Massachusetts economy when she appears this morning before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, according to a preview of her speech released by her aides.

Healey, who is scheduled to address the crowd of businesspeople at the Westin Seaport at 10 a.m., will point to expansions and investments, such as P&G Gillette’s plans to build a new campus close to its current one in South Boston; GE Aerospace’s upgrades to its Lynn facility; wearable tech company Whoop’s proposal for more than 600 new jobs; and grocery chain Big Y’s six new stores and 750 full and part-time jobs.

The three GOP candidates for governor have hit Healey over the loss of hundreds of jobs at Zipcar and Thermo Fisher Scientific, and the shutdown of Cape Cod Potato Chips plant in Hyannis.

FROM BEACON HILL

TAX REBATE REQUEST: Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling against President Trump’s tariffs, Gov. Maura Healey is asking Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to return money to Massachusetts households, to the tune of $1,745 per household. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a similar request. The Trump White House disputes that tariffs are taxes on consumers, a stance that places them at odds with economists and research. – MassLive

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS: When Healey’s labor chief, Lauren Jones, appeared before lawmakers on the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, they took the opportunity to press her on the many calls they’ve received from constituents looking for help with unemployment benefits. Jones said call wait times have dropped and the office has also requested help from the U.S. Department of Labor. – CommonWealth Beacon

Join Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, Senate Majority Leader Creem, Event Hosts Senator Payano, and Representatives Consalvo, Garballey, and Williams, other leaders of legislature, advocacy,and medicine for Virtual 17th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, held on March 24th, 10 am to 2 pm. You will take part in expanding a Massachusetts model of national leadership in prostate cancer awareness, medical education, research and reducing health disparities. You will learn about the cutting-edge advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment – and Prostate Cancer Resource Project, bringing the best available quality care to Massachusetts men and supporting them every step of their medical journey. This event is organized by AdMeTech Foundation, in cooperation with the Prostate Cancer Action Council.

NEWS NEXT DOOR

DATA CENTER MORATORIUM: Lowell city councilors have banned construction of data centers for up to a year, the first moratorium of its kind in Massachusetts. The ban prevents an existing data center in the city from expanding. – Boston Business Journal

ELECTIONS CHIEF: Boston City Hall is searching for a new elections commissioner as the department is still under state receivership. Eneida Tavares quietly left the post in February, and city officials posted the job opening to LinkedIn this past weekend. – Boston Globe

EPSTEIN FALLOUT: Members of the Simon’s Rock and Bard College community are demanding the resignation of Bard President Leon Botstein, alleging he hasn’t been transparent to a past tie to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. – Berkshire Eagle

NEW FUNDING PARTNERSHIP: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a new $4.4 million fund for immigrants needing legal assistance and other resources amid a Trump administration crackdown on immigration. The Wu administration is depositing $1.3 million into the fund, and the rest is coming from the Barr Foundation, the Boston Foundation, and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. – MassLive

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