Photo: MassArt, FIFA World Cup 26
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — FIFA has unveiled its official host city poster for the 2026 World Cup in Boston, and it’s designed by a local artist.
FIFA partnered with the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to make it happen. The poster was created by John Rego, a 2018 MassArt graduate and current illustration professor at the school.
The poster depicts a huge lobster goaltending an underwater soccer match in Boston Harbor, with an octopus kicking a soccer ball into the sky and the Boston skyline in the background.
“In the lectures I had with my students about the poster they felt that Boston’s waterfront and its cityscape needed to be prominently featured in the poster,” Rego said. “I took inspiration from a whale watching trip I went on and photos of the harbor to create an underwater scene that thematically represents Boston.”
Rego also said there is a lot of Boston history scattered throughout the poster, highlighting the city’s industrial roots.
Boston is the only North American FIFA World Cup host city to partner with a local college to create the official poster.
“MassArt is honored to be part of Boston’s FIFA World Cup 26 journey, celebrating creativity and collaboration at the highest level. Seeing John work, alongside our students, to bring this poster to life has been truly inspiring, it is exciting to showcase the talent and vision that thrive here in Boston and across New England,” said Mary Grant, president of MassArt.