3 things that worked (and 3 that didn’t) on the first day of World Cup in Mass.
The World Cup kicked off in Foxborough on Saturday, with Scotland defeating Haiti to secure its first World Cup win in 36 years in front of a crowd of more than 64,000.
As World Cup action returns to Gillette Stadium on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. match between Iraq and Norway, here are three things that worked, and three things that didn’t, during the first weekend of the international soccer competition in New England.
What worked
The trains ran smoothly: With World Cup festivities arriving in Boston, questions arose about how the MBTA and commuter rail operator Keolis would manage with tens of thousands of fans commuting to and from Foxborough.
On Saturday, those questions were answered: The MBTA said all passengers with valid tickets were able to board a train. The transportation authority said it transported about 19,100 passengers after pre-selling 20,000 tickets.
All Boston-bound returning trains arrived ahead of schedule, with the final train arriving at South Station at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the MBTA.
Crime at a minimum: Despite thousands gathering for watch parties across Boston, and thousands more packing into Foxborough for the first match in Massachusetts, crime was low.
Boston police said they made two Fan Fest-related arrests Saturday, while State Police said they had “no major incidents to report.”
The most talked about World Cup moment involving Boston police came when an officer juggled a soccer ball at Fan Fest in City Hall Plaza, much to the delight of fans.
Fans praised clean-up efforts: Keeping Boston clean and safe amid the festivities is a priority, city officials said. A spokesperson for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said the city has “worked closely with public safety partners and coordinated across agencies to ensure safety and accessibility for residents and visitors.”
One fan, Sam Peterson, visiting from Michigan, praised city workers for keeping downtown clean amid the surge of visitors after attending Fan Fest in City Hall Plaza.
What didn’t work
Long lines at Boston’s South Station: Though all fans with valid tickets were reportedly able to board their trains, lines to board stretched around the block at South Station.
Ryan White, who drove from Burlington, Vt., to catch a train to the game with his family, compared the winding queues to waiting for a ride at Disney World.
“I think we were walking for more than 20 minutes in loops,” he said. “I kept thinking we had arrived, but you looked up and there were four more loops, each 200 yards long.”
Some riders said trains lacked air conditioning: Some fans reported packed trains without air conditioning as temperatures in Boston neared 90 degrees, per the National Weather Service.
Steven Rehnie said his train was crowded and hot, and it was a “nightmare” getting into the stadium.
“It seemed badly organized, but [it was] amazing to go to the first World Cup game,” Rehnie said.
Entry to stadium tested fans’ patience: Upon making it to Foxborough, enteringthe stadium also posed challenges for some fans, with closed entrances, long lines, and confusing signs leaving many waiting.
With more than an hour to go before kickoff, dense crowds clogged entrances to the stadium.
Ian Cox, 51, of Foxborough, helped organize transportation for Scotland supporters and said the crowds outside the gates became concerning at times. He said it took more than an hour for his group to make it inside the stadium.
“There was some frustration building, definitely,” he said. “There were too many people herded into too small an area.”
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