FIFA stated on X that it does not have a formal policy restricting tailgating at U.S. venues for the 2026 World Cup, addressing reports in U.S. media that had claimed such a ban was in place. The governing body said host city public safety authorities may impose site-specific restrictions at certain venues based on local regulations.

"FIFA does not have a formal policy that restricts tailgating," FIFA Media wrote on X. FIFA said additional fan information for all World Cup 2026 matches would be communicated in advance of the tournament.

Local organizers and authorities decide whether activities such as tailgating will be allowed at World Cups, and those decisions may not be made public until closer to the tournament. The Boston organizing committee's website states that traditional tailgating is not permitted for these events. Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal to possess or drink from open containers of alcohol in public spaces.

In U.S. sports culture, tailgating is a pre-game social event in which fans park their cars outside a stadium and socialize by drinking, eating, and cooking on site before the game. Tailgating can begin several hours before kickoff and is most common during NFL matches, where it is especially popular among American football fans. In the United Kingdom, the same term refers to illegally entering stadiums by closely following ticket holders through turnstiles, a punishable offense.

During a World Cup, FIFA takes control of stadiums and works with local organizing committees to carry out security and logistical operations on match days. FIFA requires all stadiums used for major tournaments to have two secure perimeters, with the outer perimeter intended for security and the inner perimeter used for final ticket checks and authentication. The location of the outer perimeter at each stadium depends on the stadium's location, available parking, and travel arrangements, and is designed to create a safe distance between the stadium building and potential threats.

The United States is one of three cohost nations for the 2026 World Cup and accounts for nearly two-thirds of the 16 host cities across North America, with U.S. venues set to host 78 of the 104 games. The United States will play Paraguay in its opening match on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, to be renamed Los Angeles Stadium, in Inglewood, California. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, to be renamed New York New Jersey Stadium, will host the final on July 19. FIFA has renamed all World Cup stadium venues to match their host city names to restrict ambush marketing by non-associated brands.

Other U.S. stadiums hosting 2026 matches include Gillette Stadium in Boston, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Lumen Field in Seattle, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, NRG Stadium in Houston, and Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area. Boston is the only U.S. host city that has publicly confirmed a tailgating prohibition ahead of the tournament.