Brockton will impose a nighttime curfew in designated areas of the city beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, and ending at 5 a.m. on Saturday. The curfew prohibits entry into establishments serving alcohol after 7 p.m. on Friday, with the last call for alcohol sales set for 9:30 p.m.

Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues announced the curfew at a news conference on Wednesday. "The purpose of this curfew is to protect public safety, reduce criminal activity associated with post-game celebrations, and enable police, fire and emergency personnel to effectively maintain order and respond to emergencies," Rodrigues said.

The announcement follows injuries in shootings that occurred after World Cup matches or when crowds gathered downtown in Brockton. Two shootings took place on June 21 after World Cup watch parties on Main Street and Warren Avenue. Four people sustained injuries in a shooting on Main Street on June 26 and were transported to local hospitals. In total, at least nine people were injured in these incidents, according to Brockton police.

"As a proud Cape Verdean native, it saddens me to take these steps. But after the events of Sunday the 21st and Friday the 26th, this is where we are," Rodrigues said.

Cape Verde is scheduled to play Argentina in a World Cup knockout stage match on Friday. Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2026. Close to 19% of Brockton's 100,000 residents are of Cape Verdean descent, according to 2020 Census data.

The curfew exempts first responders, individuals traveling to or from work, and those seeking medical care. It also respects First Amendment activities, including news coverage. Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez stated the department is understaffed. The Brockton Police Department previously relied on mutual aid from the Massachusetts State Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office, and neighboring police departments during celebrations, with more than 200 officers deployed during recent World Cup gatherings. Steve Hooke, director of the Brockton Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the city requested National Guard assistance.