Post by Joëlle Monlouis, originally published on LinkedIn on 1 August 2026. Translated from the original text.
World Cup perspectives – 2/3
🇺🇸 Boston, American elegance
After New York and Philadelphia, next stop Boston for France–Norway.
There I joined some of the Executive Committee of the French Football Federation (FFF). We also visited Les Bleus’ base camp and gained a closer insight into the environment in which they were living and preparing for their matches.
But what I will remember above all about this stop is Boston itself.
I loved this city. Its elegance, its balance, its energy… It is a wonderful place to live.
The links with France that can be felt there are no coincidence. Boston still bears the imprint of our two countries’ shared history, notably since the American War of Independence and the role played by the Marquis de La Fayette.
At the match, I had the opportunity to speak with Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts, Kim Driscoll, Lieutenant Governor, Moustapha Soykurt, Consul General of France in Boston and a sports enthusiast, and Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots.
Robert Kraft told me that he had personally financed the construction of Gillette Stadium, without public funding. An anecdote that speaks volumes about his personal commitment and his vision for sport.
Between the atmosphere around the stadium, the many French supporters and the city’s charm, Boston will remain one of my fondest memories of this World Cup.
Some cities you visit… and others you leave wanting to return. Boston is unquestionably one of the latter.
Lubna Jaffery Lise Klaveness
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