The state said the second-round Sports and Entertainment Events Fund will distribute $1.757 million across six Massachusetts communities to support municipal public-safety needs tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Walpole is listed as an adjacent community to Foxborough, where Gillette Stadium will host matches.

That matters locally because Walpole is not the venue town, but it sits next to Foxborough and is part of the wider area likely to feel the tournament’s footprint.

Walpole’s World Cup information page says the Boston-area matches at Gillette Stadium run from June 13 through July 9, 2026. The first match is scheduled for June 13, leaving a short runway before the tournament begins.

The grant should be read as preparedness money, not a general town-improvement award. The state’s program is meant to help communities build and deliver the capabilities needed to prevent, prepare for, protect against and respond to safety concerns during the World Cup.

For Walpole residents and local officials, the takeaway is simple: planning around Foxborough’s tournament footprint is already underway, and the funding is arriving before the first kickoff.

Sources

• Mass.gov World Cup preparedness grant announcement
• Town of Walpole World Cup information page