Massachusetts has proudly hosted three FIFA World Cups — the 1994 Men’s World Cup, the 1999 Women’s World Cup, and the 2003 Women’s World Cup — and is set to welcome the Men’s World Cup again in Summer 2026. But you definitely don’t need to wait a decade or two to watch live soccer in Massachusetts! Read on for more information on all the teams, venues, and leagues to be found here.
Professional Soccer in Massachusetts
The New England Revolution compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Eastern Conference. Games are played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Revolution are of the ten charter teams of the MLS, kicking from its inception in 2006. Contributing to the festive atmosphere of Revolution games, aptly named supporter groups – The Midnight Riders and The Rebellion – sing, chant, and wave flags from “The Fort” in Section 143. The famed End Zone Militia, a group of Revolutionary War reenactors, ceremoniously fire their muskets when the Revolution score a goal.
The Boston Legacy FC’s inaugural season in 2026 has brought the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the highest level of American professional women’s soccer, back to Massachusetts. The Legacy FC, stewarded by an all-female ownership group, play many of their 15 home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The team’s crest features a swan, which is a reference to the iconic Swan Boats in Boston Public Garden, as well as Romeo and Juliet, a female swan pair, who used to be spotted in area waterways.
Pre-Professional and College Soccer in Massachusetts
The New England Mutiny celebrated their 25th season in 2025, making them one of the oldest women’s teams in US history. They play at the historic Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow and compete in the United States League (USL) W League. Also competing in the USL W league are the Worcester Wanderers FC who host home games at Worcester State University.
On the men’s side, Massachusetts is home to four USL2 teams! These teams are the Western United Pioneers (playing at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow), Boston City FC (with home games at Malden Catholic), New England FC (splitting home games between Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester and the New England Innovation Academy in Marlborough), and the Boston Bolts (competing at Brandeis University in Waltham).
Massachusetts is home to more than 100 colleges and universities. Dozens have varsity soccer programs where spectators can watch high-quality soccer close to the pitch for little to no cost. The following Division 1 schools have women’s and men’s soccer programs: Boston College, Boston University, College of the Holy Cross, Harvard University, Merrimack College, Northeastern University, Stonehill College, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
Massachusetts is a big soccer state at the youth level too–there are more registered soccer players ages 5-19 in Massachusetts, per capita, than any other state!
Whether you call it soccer or football, Massachusetts has just the thing for your “Beautiful Game” fever!
Sign up for our Sports and Outdoors email newsletter to stay in the game!
