Norway vs. France: Boston's Biggest World Cup Game Yet Kicks Off at 3 p.m.

The biggest World Cup game in Massachusetts so far is happening Friday afternoon, when Norway takes on France at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., and fans from both countries have already packed trains and filled the streets. Two of the most famous soccer players in the world — France's Kylian Mbappé and Norway's Erling Haaland — will face each other on the field. Both teams have already earned a spot in the next round, but there is still a lot to play for.

Fans from France and Norway crowded South Station in Boston on Friday morning. They wore jerseys, waved flags, and even showed up in Viking helmets as they boarded trains headed to Foxborough. Somerville resident Ben Steinlauf, 29, wore a Norway jersey and came to see Erling Haaland play in person for the first time. "He's a freak of nature, who should be seen in person to really understand what he can do," Steinlauf said. He called attending a World Cup game in his hometown "an absolute dream come true."

Haaland has already made a big impression at the tournament. He scored two goals in the first half during Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq. Through the first four games at Gillette Stadium, only seven goals were scored in total. Games have ended 1-0 or even 0-0, and fans are hoping Friday's matchup between two of the world's best players brings more excitement on the scoreboard.

The World Cup has also sparked a big debate in the NFL. Seven of the 11 stadiums hosting matches in the United States normally use synthetic, or fake, turf during football season. To meet FIFA's standards, those stadiums had to install real, natural grass — including Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The NFL Players Association, which represents football players, was quick to point out what this means for their members.

The NFLPA said NFL owners chose to put in real grass for soccer players but have refused to do the same for their own football players. A recent survey found that 92 percent of NFL players prefer playing on natural grass. Players say synthetic turf is much harder on their bodies, especially their knees and ankles. Report cards from NFL players gave grass fields a grade of B+, while turf fields received a D.

Patriots safety Kevin Byard spoke about why grass matters to players. "I've always been a big proponent of playing on grass," he said. "It's just a longer recovery process after playing on turf." Teammate Brenden Schooler added that grass hurts less when players fall and does not cause the painful "turf burn" that synthetic surfaces often do.

Former Patriots captain Devin McCourty explained that money is the main reason owners stick with fake turf. Owners want to hold many events at their stadiums — like concerts, rodeos, and monster truck shows — and synthetic turf holds up much better for those events than real grass does. McCourty noted that NFL teams already practice on grass fields because everyone knows turf is harder on the body. He said the World Cup has brought this long-running argument back into the spotlight.