France 2-1 Brazil in International Friendly Ahead of 2026 World Cup France secured a 2-1 victory over Brazil in a high-profile international friendly on March 26, 2026, in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as the two teams prepared for the upcoming World Cup. The match, which drew a crowd of 66,215, saw France take an early lead through Kylian Mbappé before Brazil’s Pedro Bremer reduced the deficit in the 78th minute. The game served as a crucial tuneup for both squads ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with France set to face Norway in their final group stage match at the same venue. Mbappé, who had previously suffered a left knee injury in December, showcased his fitness and form by scoring the opening goal in the 32nd minute. The 2018 World Cup champion and 2022 Golden Boot winner received a through ball from Ousmane Dembélé, evaded the goalkeeper, and chipped the ball over the keeper to put France ahead. Mbappé, now one goal away from surpassing Olivier Giroud’s all-time France goal record (57), emphasized that his injury was “truly behind me” ahead of the match. France extended their lead in the 65th minute when Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s top scorer of the season, converted a pass from Michael Olise in the penalty area. Mbappé was substituted shortly after, but his performance highlighted his return to full fitness. Brazil’s Bremer equalized with a well-timed strike in the 78th minute, but France held on to claim the win. The match took place on a grass field at Gillette Stadium, which had previously hosted NFL games and Major League Soccer matches. FIFA mandated the switch to natural grass for the 2026 World Cup, a decision that required significant logistical adjustments for the venue.#kylian_mbappe #france #brazil #hugo_ekitike #foxborough
Transportation Plans in Place for World Cup Matches in Foxborough The anticipation for the upcoming World Cup matches in Foxborough is growing as organizers prepare for a surge in visitors. The event, scheduled to take place between June 13 and the quarterfinal match on July 9, will feature teams from Haiti, Scotland, Norway, Morocco, France, England, and Ghana. The stadium, with a capacity of 66,600, is expected to host up to 2 million visitors to the Greater Boston area, coinciding with the July 4 celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary and the Sail250 tall ships event, which begins on July 10. Phillip Eng, the interim transportation secretary and MBTA general manager, addressed the challenges of managing the event during a recent appearance on Boston Public Radio. He acknowledged the complexity of the task, stating, “Every time the team presents to me on the World Cup, I get a little nervous. It’s exciting. There is some adrenaline to it that you need to have.” To enhance security and logistics, the state allocated a $3.25 million federal grant to the MBTA, underscoring the agency’s critical role in coordinating transportation for the tournament. Tom Ryan, a senior adviser at A Better City, expressed confidence in the MBTA’s ability to handle the transportation demands, citing the agency’s past success with special-event trains for concerts and the Army-Navy football game. For example, last Saturday, the MBTA transported 1,440 passengers via a sold-out train for Boston Legacy FC’s inaugural match at Gillette Stadium. However, some experts remain skeptical. Jeff Rosenblum, interim executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance, warned that commuter rail services would only cover about one-third of the stadium’s capacity, particularly as match times overlap with peak commuter hours.#world_cup #mbta #foxborough #philip_eng #sail250
