With World Cup 2026 matches spread across 16 cities, getting to and from the stadium is its own logistical challenge for traveling fans. Here’s what to know about reaching some of the tournament’s key venues, including Gillette Stadium near Boston, MetLife Stadium near New York, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium), Foxborough
Gillette Stadium, rebranded “Boston Stadium” for the tournament, is hosting seven matches between June 13 and July 9 — including five group-stage games, a round of 32 match, and a quarterfinal. The stadium is located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, about 22 miles (roughly 35 km) southwest of downtown Boston.
Scotland fans in particular will want to know this venue well: Scotland’s matches against Haiti (June 13) and Morocco (June 19) are both being played at Gillette Stadium, which likely explains why “Boston to Scotland”-type searches have been common — fans are looking for how to get from Boston to where Scotland are playing, not literal travel to Scotland.
How to Get to Gillette Stadium from Boston
Public transit is strongly recommended over driving. The MBTA is running dedicated “Boston Stadium Trains” — express commuter rail services between South Station in downtown Boston and Foxboro Station, right next to the stadium. These trains run nonstop (nokia other stops), depart roughly every 15 minutes on match days, and take about an hour each way.
- Tickets: Round-trip tickets are priced at $80 and must be purchased in advance through the MBTA mTicket app — they are not available at the station
- No regular service: There is no regular MBTA Commuter Rail or subway/bus service directly to the stadium on match days — the Boston Stadium Train is the only direct MBTA option
- Driving: Parking is available but must be reserved in advance online, starting at $175, with additional independent lots along Route 1. Stadium representatives have said there’s enough parking capacity for fans who prefer to drive, though public transit is still recommended given expected traffic
- Tailgating: Parking lots open four hours before kickoff, and tailgating has been confirmed as permitted
MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium), East Rutherford
MetLife Stadium hosts several matches throughout the tournament and is the venue for the World Cup final on July 19. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the stadium is accessible from both New York City and surrounding New Jersey via NJ Transit rail service to the Meadowlands, with connecting bus or shuttle services typically running on event days.
For fans asking about “MetLife Stadium view” — seating at MetLife is a standard NFL-style bowl configuration, and for World Cup matches the pitch is laid out across what’s normally the football field, meaning sightlines vary significantly depending on whether seating is positioned along the long sides or behind the goals. As with any major stadium, checking a seating chart specific to the World Cup configuration (rather than a generic NFL chart) is worthwhile when choosing seats.
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia is hosting World Cup matches as part of the tournament’s East Coast cluster of venues. For fans researching “club seats” or seating charts for the venue, it’s worth noting that World Cup seating configurations can differ from the venue’s standard NFL or concert layouts, since the pitch dimensions and sideline placements don’t match a football field exactly — checking tournament-specific seating information (rather than a generic Eagles or concert seating chart) gives a more accurate picture of sightlines for a soccer match specifically.
Philadelphia is well-connected by Amtrak to other East Coast World Cup cities, including direct service to Boston (with travel times of several hours) and to New York/New Jersey, making it a practical base for fans planning to attend matches in multiple East Coast venues.
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco Bay Area)
Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, is hosting World Cup matches as the Bay Area’s venue for the tournament — referred to as “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” during the World Cup despite its Santa Clara location, about 45 miles south of San Francisco itself. Fans planning to attend matches here should factor in the distance between San Francisco proper and the stadium’s actual location in the South Bay, with Caltrain and dedicated event transit typically being the most practical options to avoid stadium-area traffic and parking costs.
Planning Multi-City Trips
For fans planning to follow a team across multiple group-stage venues — or simply wanting to see matches in different cities — the East Coast cluster (Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia) is particularly well-suited to rail travel via Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, connecting all three areas without needing to fly. The West Coast venues (Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area) are more spread out and generally require flights between cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Gillette Stadium for the World Cup without driving?
The MBTA is running dedicated express “Boston Stadium Trains” between South Station in Boston and Foxboro Station, departing every 15 minutes on match days and taking about an hour each way. Round-trip tickets cost $80 and must be bought in advance via the MBTA mTicket app.
How far is Foxborough from Boston?
Foxborough, home to Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium for the World Cup), is about 22 miles (roughly 35 km) southwest of downtown Boston.
Is parking available at Gillette Stadium for World Cup matches?
Yes — parking is available but must be reserved in advance online, with prices starting at $175. Public transit via the Boston Stadium Train is recommended given expected traffic, though stadium representatives have said there’s sufficient parking capacity for those who prefer to drive.
Which World Cup 2026 matches is Scotland playing in Boston?
Scotland’s matches against Haiti (June 13) and Morocco (June 19) are both being played at Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium) in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Can I travel between East Coast World Cup venues by train?
Yes — Boston, New York/New Jersey, and Philadelphia are all connected via Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, making rail a practical option for fans attending matches across multiple East Coast venues.
Final Thoughts
Getting to World Cup 2026 venues generally means leaning on public transit rather than driving, particularly for stadiums like Gillette in Foxborough where dedicated event trains are the primary direct route and parking is limited and reservation-only. For fans planning multi-city trips, the East Coast venues’ connection via Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor makes rail travel a genuinely practical option, while West Coast venues are more spread out and typically require flights between stops.