A revamped Gillette – or Boston

World Cup

“A lot of planning and a lot of research has gone into this over the last five, six, seven, eight years.”

FOXBOROUGH — A 12-foot bronze statue of Tom Brady remains on stand just outside the gates of Gillette Stadium.

But beyond the immortal presence of the Patriots legend, there are very few markers that showcase Gillette Stadium’s status as a long-standing NFL stadium in New England.

Yes, the Patriots’ six championship banners still hang above the southbound scoreboard, but nearly every mention of Gillette Stadium and many other branding and logos have been removed, erased, or removed from the stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

That’s the cost of doing business at any venue set to host football games during the expected international tournament, with the Patriots’ home stadium – temporarily branded “Boston Stadium” – undergoing a major renovation before the tournament begins.

Ahead of Saturday’s opening match between Scotland and Haiti, World Cup organizers offered a sneak peek at some of the changes taking place around New England’s largest sporting venue.

Aside from the miles of temporary fencing, barriers and checkpoints that mark Boston Stadium and the miles of parking lots, strip malls and bars just off Route 1, one of the most noticeable changes is the revamped playing surface.

For the first time in 20 years, Gillette Stadium has a grass pitch – or pitch – in place, as FIFA requires every venue that hosts international soccer to have a grass surface.

Of the 11 stadiums in the United States that will host World Cup soccer matches over the next few months, seven are equipped with artificial turf — including Gillette Stadium. ​

Replacing the playing surface with turf has been a months-long undertaking by both FIFA and Gillette Stadium officials — especially when it comes to battling New England’s unpredictable spring weather.

“I’m really proud,” Greg Whatley, the course manager, said of the Gillette turf field, which is made up of both bluegrass and ryegrass. “This is the pinnacle for any player. We give them the right stage to perform, so we have to give them the right stage.”

It was a labor of love for both Whatley and the rest of the stadium crew in Foxboro, as the grass blades at Boston Stadium were cut down to nine-tenths of an inch.

Once Saturday’s game is over, Whatley expects his crew to be there until 3 or 4 a.m. in order to prepare the playing surface for the other six games scheduled to be played in Foxboro.

“As soon as the final whistle blows, we will be there to repair the ducts and cut and fix any kind of defects,” Whatley noted.

While the Patriots have spent the past few weeks holding team activities (OTAs) and minicamp practices on the fields behind Gillette Stadium, FIFA has beefed up several areas of the New England arena.

The Patriots film room has been transformed into the FIFA press conference area — with the cushioned seating designed to accommodate a full NFL roster removed and replaced with more standard seating for media and football officials.

The Patriots’ locker room is off-limits to teams scheduled to call Boston Stadium home over the next few weeks, as both the Revolutionary Guards’ locker room and the visiting NFL team’s locker room have been converted into locker areas for World Cup clubs.

As for the fan experience, nearly 200 volunteers will be on standby for Saturday’s pre-game festivities, expected to take part in every corner of the stadium in the pomp and circumstance.

Fans in attendance will also be able to participate in the Stadium Fan Experience Zone – located just outside Boston Stadium. The Experience Zone, which includes a giant video board, food trucks and other amenities, will open three hours before kickoff, close a half-hour before kickoff, and then reopen to fans two hours after the games end.

After years of planning, construction, bureaucratic gridlock and other headaches, there’s only one thing left to do in Foxboro. Get things started on Saturday night.

“A lot of planning and a lot of research has gone into this over the last five, six, seven, eight years,” Whatley said. “The pressures are there, but we are very confident that we will get the answers we need. I can’t wait until we start being honest.”