Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio
FOXBORO, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Now that a funding deal for security at Gillette Stadium has been reached, soccer fans and local businesses are officially preparing for the World Cup.
Stalled federal grants held up $7.8 million for security costs, causing Foxboro officials to refuse to issue the permits needed for the games to be held at Gillette Stadium.
With the games scheduled in just a couple of months, time was running out.
But a last-minute funding deal worked out between Foxboro and the Kraft Group has given the green light for the games.
Marc Civilinsky owns Route One Wine and Spirits in Foxboro.
He said he never doubted funding would get approved. "It was a deal we all knew eventually would go through," he said. "Just how they got there was a matter of semantics."
Civilinsky said there's still work to do. "We're looking at everything from security measures to making sure we have people on board that can speak the language of the countries that are coming in."
The teams coming to Foxboro this summer to play in the World Cup: England, France, Norway, Haiti, Scotland, Morocco, and Ghana.
"We're actually stocking up a lot on our soccer products," said Matt Berard, assistant manager at CardVault at Patriot Place.
He added that they are hoping to sell some of their high-end soccer memorabilia.
"We actually have a signed Erling Haaland jersey," Berard said. "He's going to be one of the more prolific players for Norway playing here in the World Cup."
Haaland, one of the best players in the world, is a striker for Manchester City in England's Premier League.
Berard said they will also be selling a pair of signed Lionel Messi cleats for $4,500.
Argentina's Messi, who plays for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, has not yet confirmed whether he will be playing in the World Cup.
The games in Foxboro at Gillette are scheduled June 13-26.
WBZ Boston NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.