A friendly match between France and Brazil was played at Gillette Stadium in suburban Boston on March 26. It was a warm-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Kyle Klein photo)
What makes Boston’s sports scene unique isn’t the championships. Yes, the combined 13 titles across North America’s four major sports leagues since 2001 are more than any other city. But a fan from somewhere else isn’t likely to be keen to go to a Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, or Red Sox game to see them beat up on an opponent, especially if that opponent is the team for which said fan roots. Sports fans, and I am and always have been a serious one, should come to Boston because it’s not only got game, it’s got an awe about it.
The oldest active baseball stadium in the major leagues, the most historic franchise in the NBA, an Original Six hockey team that was the first U.S. franchise in the NHL, and an NFL squad with more Super Bowl titles than any other. No matter what team is yours, there is sure to be some meaningful intersection with a foe from Boston.
In 2003, the Boston Red Sox began selling tickets to watch a baseball game from atop the Green Monster. They’re now among the hottest seats in the sport. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
The mix of history and success makes Boston an attraction. To the credit of Boston’s sports curators, they haven’t ignored the broader landscape when they display artifacts and memorabilia at their famous venues. Fenway Park has a collection of signed baseballs from every World Series team from 1920 to 2018, the last time the Red Sox won a World Series. The Boston Sports Museum, located at the circa 1995 TD Garden, features a mesmerizing collection of memorabilia. Hockey fans will be amazed by the century-old gems that include Canadian-born Bruins greats, such as Milt Schmidt and, of course, Bobby Orr. The famous No. 4 is honoured with two incredible statues — a bronze one of him flying through the air after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970 greets fans outside of TD Garden and an intricate wood-carved life-size replica of the defenceman is inside the Boston Sports Museum on the ninth floor of the arena. Next to him are carved depictions of Celtics legend Larry Bird and Hall of Fame baseball icon Ted Williams, shown participating in his other passion: fishing.
The many championship banners of the Bruins and Celtics hang from the rafters in TD Garden. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
While Fenway Park and TD Garden are the top sports attractions for Boston, this summer adds a component that figures to turn the city into an even more compelling destination. The 2026 FIFA World Cup features seven games in Beantown. As with the fortune of its sports teams, the city drew arguably the best slate of matches of any of the 13 host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Teams playing in Boston include England, France, and Morocco — each of them a quarterfinalist in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There are also intriguing underdogs in Scotland and Haiti on the schedule.
World Cup Fever in Boston
The strong draw is lining up to be a boon for the city’s tourism industry. Canadians’ boycott of U.S. travel has hit businesses like a bodycheck. Visitation from Canada in 2025 was down 22% year-over-year, according to Meet Boston, the city’s tourism board, dropping from roughly 900,000 travellers to approximately 650,000. An uptick from that total is forecast for 2026, though it’s not expected to come close to the levels of two years ago, prior to the tariffs, insults, and threats to sovereignty that spewed from the White House. Boston’s FIFA draw that is both star-studded and relevant to Canada’s immigrant communities is likely to bring fans across the border. Montrealers, who have a tradition of cheering for the Red Sox, will no doubt be interested in catching France and Haiti play World Cup games at Gillette Stadium in suburban Foxboro as well as watching baseball at Fenway.
An intricately carved wood statue of Bobby Orr is one of the highlight attractions at the Boston Sports Museum at the TD Garden arena. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
“Things are ramping up with the signage and transportation planning and this friendly game we have between France and Brazil will give us a chance to see what to expect,” said Jon Previtera, director of communications for Boston’s World Cup organizing committee. “Not every city is in the same situation as us. With America’s 250 celebrations and our annual Tall Ships festival, we have ways to extend the FIFA interest beyond those games.”
The city is planning to have 14 special-event trains travelling to each FIFA match. Fans can secure a seat on those trains by buying tickets in advance through the FIFA app. On March 26, France beat Brazil, 2-1, in a match that served as a warm-up for what’s to come when the tournament kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City. The match gave the city a sense of its logistics plan, including what gaps may need to be filled. It also helped to ramp up excitement for the World Cup. Throughout the city, watch parties are already scheduled.
Independently owned Revere Hotel, an attractive boutique property that has just completed a refresh of its rooms and hallways, has a spacious rooftop deck that will host watch parties for fans. City Hall will be the site of the official watch parties, scheduled to be held throughout the tournament, and will be a draw for local and visiting fans.
The soccer activations seem to come naturally to a city used to throwing big celebrations. Its achievements since 2001 are envious, painfully so for some of us who have scant few, if any, championships to revel in during the 21st century. (Excluding Team Canada’s international hockey successes, the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA title has been the only major-league shining moment for me and many other Canadians.)
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With the success comes a culture of sport that is sustained through innovation and development. Massachusetts-based New Balance has a state-of-the-art track-and-field facility that opened in 2022 and aspires to earn the monicker of “world’s fastest indoor track”. Across the street in the Brighton neighbourhood is the Warrior Ice Arena, which is owned by New Balance. The Bruins’ practice rink opened in 2016 and features a 70-foot-tall steel stick on the outside. It offers fans the chance to see the team practice in a venue that’s the size of a small-town hockey arena. When the team isn’t on the ice, kids’ lessons and open skating sessions take place, giving Bruins supporters the chance to be on the same rink as the likes of current stars David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie.
Even Formula 1 lovers have a place in Boston with an intense arcade experience that puts you behind the wheel of a virtual race car. The F1 Arcade launched in London and there are now five U.S. locations, with Boston being the first.
The Boston Bruins practice at the Warrior Ice Arena and fans can view them while they’re on the ice. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
“Boston is such a cool city. To be an athlete in this city is unlike anything else,” says Danielle Marmer, general manager of the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). “I feel bad for athletes in New York City. They have to compete with all kinds of different forms of entertainment. Here, there’s a focus and passion for sports.”
Born in Massachusetts and raised in Vermont, Marmer has a keen understanding of the Boston sports scene. Prior to her role with the Fleet, she was the first woman to hold an executive position with the Bruins hockey operations, serving as a Player Development and Scouting Assistant from 2022-23 before the PWHL launched. She knows there is pressure to succeed in Boston and that pressure adds to the vitality of the sports culture.
“Fans expect championships and they don’t expect them for no reason,” Marmer says. “They get ’em.”
MORE ABOUT BOSTON SPORTS EXPERIENCES
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Boston Bruins: Finishing in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the 2025-26 Bruins enter the NHL Playoffs with a first-round matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. If the Bruins win the best-of-seven series, they may face the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2.
Boston Celtics: After finishing second in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the Celtics started their playoff run with a Game 1 victory against the seventh-ranked Philadelphia 76ers. There’s a chance the Celtics could face the Raptors if both teams advance further into the postseason.
Boston Red Sox: This year, the Toronto Blue Jays visit Fenway Park from June 16-18 and July 24-26.
Enjoy a beer in a nostalgic glass while you watch from just beyond the grass at Fenway Park’s Bleacher Bar. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
Fenway has a number of one-of-a-kind experiences for baseball fans, including: a behind-the-scenes tour that’s a must for those who want to deepen their knowledge of the sport; seats on top of the famed Green Monster in left field; and first-come, first-serve seats at the Bleacher Bar behind the outfield wall.
Boston Marathon: The 130th marathon in the city took place on April 20 with more than 30,000 participants. In 2025, 1,550 Canadians started the race, making the event a significant annual tourism driver.
WHERE TO STAY IN BOSTON
The Revere Hotel in Boston has 356 guestrooms and suites. (Adrian Brijbassi photo for Vacay.ca)
The Revere Hotel: Named after a hero of the Revolutionary War, the hotel is proudly independently owned and operated. It features an expansive rooftop and inviting lobby-level lounge that’s suited for those who need work space. Address: 200 Stuart Street, Boston, Massachusetts (see map below). Room Rates: Summer room rates start at about $450 USD per night, depending on date of travel. Reservations: Visit the Revere’s website for booking info and more.
