Opinion: Massachusetts a model for event readiness

Massachusetts this summer offered a case study in public safety preparedness, highlighting how coordination scaled from past large events to the global complexity of the 2026 World Cup. The state says it safely hosted seven matches at Boston Stadium in Foxboro. In Boston, city leadership and public safety teams coordinated with partners to run the FIFA Fan Festival, while communities across Massachusetts organized watch parties for visitors. The core claim is that the outcome depended on planning over more than two years involving local, state, federal, regional, venue, event, and private-sector partners. Organizing the effort through 14 specialized planning groups, the state describes nearly 3,000 public safety personnel and about 60 law enforcement agencies supporting match operations. It also cites a major U.S. airspace security and drone-mitigation effort, with the FBI using advanced technology and seizing 34 drones.