Zurich, we have a problem.
The problem is that communities across Massachusetts want to host World Cup watch parties, but haven’t been able to get a key license from FIFA, the Swiss organization that controls the event.
What’s the holdup? Well, communities say they can’t get a straight answer and FIFA didn’t respond to Globe reporters’ questions either, so we don’t know.
But frustration is rising among event organizers. “You would think [the license] would be the easy part — that FIFA would want us to broadcast these games,” said Salem Derby, the mayor of Easthampton, where plans for a $250,000, five-day fan event hinge on getting the license.
You would think so, indeed. Why wouldn’t FIFA leap at the chance to help watch parties in one of the event’s host states succeed?
The uncertainty is already causing some communities to consider scaled-back festivities. Two municipalities, Framingham and Weymouth, have decided against holding watch parties, the Globe reported, citing security and cost concerns.
It’s not as if the fan events are likely to cannibalize ticket sales for the live games at Gillette Stadium, for which tickets can cost thousands of dollars.
The public viewing licenses cost between $1,000 and $20,000, with the price determined by the expected crowd size. The state is distributing $10 million in grants to help support the celebrations, and towns are also supplying their own funds and raising private donations.
If municipalities don’t get the licenses, though, they can’t legally screen the games.
There does not appear to be much recourse to hurry FIFA. But hopefully the organization will get the message that the clock is ticking, and municipalities need to get their approvals now to finalize event plans.
FIFA should also realize that if the communities end up canceling or downsizing watch parties because of unnecessary delays and legal foot-dragging, that would leave the whole event with a black eye.
What cities would want to host the World Cup in the future if all their residents get is more more traffic and fewer tips? Watch parties are one way to make the disruption of hosting games in Massachusetts worth it for ordinary citizens who aren’t prepared to shell out $5,000 for tickets.
If they’re not already, state and federal officials should be nudging FIFA to review the applications quickly and give towns yes or no answers.
Hopefully, those answers will be yes. But if they’re not, FIFA should let communities change and resubmit their applications for quick reconsideration.
Massachusetts and US taxpayers are helping to pay for the World Cup. The least that the organizers could do in return is make sure that when local events ask to pay FIFA for a viewing license, they get a timely answer.
Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.