North America’s World Cup win revives talk of Boston soccer stadium

Boston is one of 23 North American cities that could end up hosting World Cup games in 2026. (FIFA, international soccer’s governing body, awarded the tournament to Canada, the United States, and Mexico in early June.)

That reality has reignited speculation about a permanent professional soccer stadium somewhere in the immediate Boston area. Currently, the New England Revolution, the region’s pro soccer franchise, plays in Gillette Stadium.

The Revolution’s principal owner, Robert Kraft, was part of the group that nabbed the World Cup for North America. And Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots, has long wanted a Boston-area stadium for the Revolution. You see where we’re going with this?

The imminent arrival of the World Cup in Boston could spur the construction of a stadium fit for the task. And once it’s erected, the Revolution could take it over post-tournament.

Kraft is certainly still interested, according to a spokesman. But we’ve been here before. The Revolution has sought to build a stadium in Somerville’s Inner Belt area, in South Boston, in Dorchester around the South Bay Center, and, most recently, at the Dot site of the former Bayside Expo Center.

All have fallen through or never really got off the ground. Will the next eight years see a drastic change? Stay tuned. FIFA is expected to select its 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup over the next two years.

• Analysis: 2026 World Cup could help Robert Kraft score soccer stadium in Boston [Herald]
• Boston pro soccer stadium appears kaput in Dorchester [Curbed Boston]