2026 FIFA World Cup’s Economic Impact on the U.S.
According to Bank of America, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to inject approximately $20 billion into the U.S. economy. This boost is expected to lead to significant growth in host cities and trigger the largest increase in consumer spending seen in over four years.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan mentioned that about half of the tournament’s total new economic activity, which is estimated at $40 billion, is directed toward the U.S. This influence extends beyond the stadiums themselves. It appears that the bank’s vast customer base—70 million consumers spending over $400 billion monthly—has increased their spending by around 5% to 6% compared to last year.
“Even cities like Kansas City are experiencing a faster growth in spending compared to others,” Moynihan remarked. “The effects are being felt directly in the local economy, benefiting not just those in the stadium but also bars and restaurants.”
Current spending patterns demonstrate that Americans are spending at the highest rate since early 2022. A recent survey showed a 6.3% increase in total credit and debit card spending in June from the previous year. Excluding gasoline purchases, the increase stands at 5.6%.
Supporting this, government data reflects similar trends. The Census Bureau reported a 6.7% rise in U.S. retail and food service sales in June compared to a year prior, marking the fifth consecutive month of increases. Spending at bars and restaurants, particularly exposed to World Cup visitors, was up by 3.8% year-on-year.
Airline travel and leisure spending showed double-digit growth in June, with clothing expenditures rising 7% and miscellaneous goods increasing by 5%. Notably, Bank of America’s report doesn’t factor in foreign tourist spending, which means the overall economic benefit is likely even greater.
The New York/New Jersey Host Committee reported that fans spent $1.2 billion in June alone, leading to a total economic impact of approximately $2.1 billion. The organizing committee also generated $228 million in tax revenue during that time.
Bank of America found that spending on restaurants in host cities saw a 2% increase in the initial weeks of the tournament, while spending in non-host locations remained relatively stable. Interestingly, it appears lower-income consumers have been significantly driving this increased spending.
Hotels are not only benefiting from higher occupancy but are also seeing gains in pricing. In Kansas City, revenue per room surged by about 90%, while San Francisco saw a 55% increase, according to CoStar Group data.
Victor Matheson, a sports economics professor, commented, “The market in Kansas City will likely be impacted heavily.” He also mentioned that economic benefits could vary by city, influenced by the nature of the matchups.
Matheson recalled that certain cities, like Boston, were filled with passionate fans, while some group-stage matches, such as Austria vs. Algeria in Kansas City, might rely more on local attendees, given the smaller traveling fan bases.
Interestingly, this surge in spending comes amid a slowdown in job growth. In June, only 57,000 jobs were added—far below expectations—with the leisure and hospitality sector losing 61,000 jobs due to seasonal factors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This has raised questions about whether the tournament would significantly boost employment and salaries. For context, estimates from Goldman Sachs suggested that the World Cup might generate 40,000 new jobs.
However, it was noted that workers in the lowest income brackets who changed jobs experienced raises of around 12%, with their card spending rising by 4.8% year-on-year.
On a larger scale, authorities are keen to establish soccer events as a regular occurrence. Boston has managed to handle the influx of international tourists smoothly and is already pursuing a bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2031. Meanwhile, there have been hints, from figures like President Trump, about the possibility of the U.S. hosting the tournament again soon.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup transpired from June 11 through its final match on a Sunday, where Spain triumphed over Argentina 1-0. This tournament involved 16 cities across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
