FRANKLIN, MA –  The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the City of Marlborough and the Town of Franklin, in April announced plans for a coordinated MetroWest Regional Fan Zone initiative at two locations to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ and bring a major tournament viewing event to the region.

“The World Cup is a hugely unifying global event, and this initiative brings that energy directly to MetroWest,” said Stacey David, Executive Director of the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau. “By working together across communities, we’re creating a regional hub where residents and visitors can experience the excitement of the tournament and celebrate together...”

Each Fan Zone will feature live match broadcasts on a jumbotron, surrounded by an outdoor festival with a beer garden, food trucks, arts & crafts and other vendors, and family-friendly activities. Organizers expect the events to draw thousands daily across the two sites, which will serve as a regional gathering place for spectators to experience the excitement of the FIFA World Cup™ close to home.

Marlborough’s Fan Zone will take place June 11–13 at Kelleher Field, with livestreams of:

• Mexico vs. South Africa (June 11)

• USA vs. Paraguay (June 12)

• Brazil vs. Morocco and Haiti vs. Scotland (June 13)

Franklin will host the second Fan Zone on June 24–25 at the Franklin Town Common and adjacent Hayward Manor, featuring:

• Switzerland vs Canada and Scotland vs. Brazil (June 24)

• Ecuador vs. Germany and Tunisia vs. Netherlands (June 25)

“As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Franklin is proud to ‘Welcome the World’ to our Town Common, which has long been a place where our community comes together,” said Cory Shea, Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy for the Town of Franklin. “This Fan Zone blends the excitement of a global event with the warmth and tradition of a New England town, offering a family-friendly gathering place where residents and visitors alike can share in a truly special experience.”

Shea adds that Franklin, Marlborough and the Metrowest Visitors Bureau of Boston together applied for and were awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, securing $120,000 to support the MetroWest Fan Zone—helping drive economic activity and create a vibrant, welcoming experience across the region.

Additional details will be available in the official Fan Zone Guide, at www.metrowestvisitors.org/world-cup. The guide will be available in English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Local retailers, arts and crafts vendors, and nonprofit organizations are invited to participate. Vendor applications are available at www.metrowestvisitors.org/fan-vendors. Businesses may also host interactive activity or brand activation booths; more information is available at www.metrowestvisitors.org/fan-activations.