Photo: Jared Brosnan/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is getting out the message that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will have a big impact on traffic.
Three countries are hosting the World Cup: Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
In the U.S, 11 cities across 10 states are hosting games.
Massachusetts has seven matches in June and July at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, renamed 'Boston Stadium' for the World Cup.
At a press briefing on Monday, MassDOT officials said that while the games don't start for another month, the time is now to prepare.
"One thing you should walk away from today is to plan ahead," said Massachusetts Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.
"FIFA is not your typical event," he said. "While we've had many events at Gillette Stadium, this is like a Taylor Swift concert, a playoff series, World Series, and Super Bowl, all in one place."
Gulliver added that the fastest way to get to the stadium is to take the Boston Stadium Trains and/or the shuttle buses.
"If you've decided that you can't take one of those public transportation options and you have to drive, really, right now, start planning to make sure you have a parking space."
For people who do not have a game ticket but still plan on going to the stadium, Gulliver said, don't.
Instead, he said to find one of the many World Cup fan events that are being held throughout the state.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jared Brosnan (@JaredBrosnanWBZ) reports.