WEAPON THAT HE IS NOW USING. DAVID. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT MARIA. THE MBTA SAYS IT NEEDS TO CLOSE THIS ENTIRE EIGHT 800 FOOT SECTION OF SUMMER STREET FROM SOUTH STATION ALL THE WAY OVER TO FORT POINT. CHANNEL THERE FOR ALL SEVEN DAYS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE WORLD CUP MATCHES THIS SUMMER, HE SAYS. THESE CLOSURES WILL LAST TEN HOURS EACH DAY AND ARE NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 20,000 WORLD CUP FANS EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH SOUTH STATION SO THEY CAN BOARD COMMUTER RAIL TRAINS TO THE STADIUM IN FOXBOROUGH. THE CITY HAS AGREED TO THE CLOSURES ON A SATURDAY AND ON THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY, BUT SAYS WEEKDAY CLOSURES WILL BE DISRUPTIVE TO LOCAL WORKERS, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF EVERYONE. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT SAFETY CAN GO HAND IN HAND WITH ACTIVATING THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH. BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE OVER A CITY PERMIT. THE CITY IS ARGUING FOR SHORTER PARTIAL STREET CLOSURES, BUT THE MBTA HAS PUT THE CITY ON NOTICE THAT IT IS PREPARED TO USE EMINENT DOMAIN AND TEMPORARILY SEIZE CONTROL OF SUMMER STREET, AND CLOSED IT, WHETHER THE CITY LIKES IT OR NOT. THE FIRST WORLD CUP MATCH IN FOXBOROUGH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 13T
Massachusetts, Boston debate Summer Street closures for World Cup
Updated: 5:10 PM EDT May 19, 2026
Editorial Standards
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Boston city officials are in a dispute over plans to close an 800-foot section of Summer Street near South Station during World Cup game days this summer.The MBTA said the closures, lasting 10 hours each day, are necessary to accommodate up to 20,000 fans expected to pass through South Station to board Commuter Rail trains to the stadium in Foxborough. The city has agreed to closures on a Saturday and the Juneteenth holiday, but has raised concerns about weekday closures, citing disruptions to local workers, residents and businesses. “Obviously, safety is the number one priority of everyone. We also believe that safety can go hand in hand with activating the downtown area and allowing people to go back and forth,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Negotiations about a city permit for the closures are ongoing, with the city advocating for shorter, partial street closures. Meanwhile, the MBTA has put the city on notice that it is prepared to use eminent domain to temporarily seize control of Summer Street and enforce the closures if necessary. The first World Cup match in Foxborough is scheduled for June 13.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Boston city officials are in a dispute over plans to close an 800-foot section of Summer Street near South Station during World Cup game days this summer.
The MBTA said the closures, lasting 10 hours each day, are necessary to accommodate up to 20,000 fans expected to pass through South Station to board Commuter Rail trains to the stadium in Foxborough.
The city has agreed to closures on a Saturday and the Juneteenth holiday, but has raised concerns about weekday closures, citing disruptions to local workers, residents and businesses.
“Obviously, safety is the number one priority of everyone. We also believe that safety can go hand in hand with activating the downtown area and allowing people to go back and forth,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Negotiations about a city permit for the closures are ongoing, with the city advocating for shorter, partial street closures.
Meanwhile, the MBTA has put the city on notice that it is prepared to use eminent domain to temporarily seize control of Summer Street and enforce the closures if necessary.
The first World Cup match in Foxborough is scheduled for June 13.
