The 2026 FIFA World Cup has injected approximately $20 billion into the U.S. economy, driving the most substantial increase in consumer spending seen in more than four years, according to Bank of America. Half of the tournament's $40 billion in economic activity has benefited the United States, with impacts extending beyond stadium attendance.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan noted that spending growth rates in host cities like Kansas City have outpaced other U.S. cities. This economic boost is primarily directed towards local businesses such as restaurants and bars, rather than solely benefiting stadium attendees. Overall credit and debit card spending by the bank's 70 million consumer customers rose 6.3% year-over-year in June, and 5.6% when excluding gasoline purchases. This marks the fastest pace of consumer spending since early 2022.
Government data corroborates these findings. U.S. retail and food services sales increased by 6.7% in June compared to the previous year, marking the fifth consecutive monthly rise. Second-quarter sales were up 6.4% from 2025. Spending at bars and restaurants, which are particularly impacted by World Cup crowds, saw a 3.8% increase year-over-year. Bank of America's data also indicated double-digit growth in airline and leisure spending in June, with clothing sales up 7% and general merchandise up 5%. The report did not include spending by international visitors, suggesting the total economic impact could be even higher.
The New York/New Jersey Host Committee reported that fans spent $1.2 billion in June alone, resulting in a total economic impact of $2.1 billion and generating $228 million in tax revenue for the region.
Restaurant spending in host cities saw a two-percentage-point increase during the tournament's opening weeks, while non-host cities remained relatively flat. This surge was notably driven by lower-income consumers. Hotels also experienced significant revenue increases, with Kansas City reporting a roughly 90% jump in revenue per room and San Francisco seeing a 55% increase, according to CoStar Group data. Victor Matheson, a sports economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross, explained that major increases in hotel prices are common in host cities due to capacity constraints.
The financial benefits for individual cities were also influenced by the tournament's schedule and participating teams. Matches involving teams with smaller traveling fan bases, such as Austria versus Algeria in Kansas City, relied more heavily on local attendance compared to games drawing large international followings.
This rise in consumer spending occurred despite a broader slowdown in hiring, with employers adding only 57,000 jobs in June, falling short of expectations. The leisure and hospitality sector even shed 61,000 positions due to weak seasonal hiring, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This trend contrasted with earlier predictions, including a Goldman Sachs estimate that the World Cup would create 40,000 jobs.
Workers in lower-paying positions who changed jobs saw average raises of about 12%, with their card spending increasing by 4.8% year-over-year, based on Bank of America deposit data.
Following the tournament's success, discussions are underway about future sporting events. Boston is considering a bid for the 2031 Women's World Cup, and former President Trump has suggested the U.S. could bid to host the men's tournament again in the coming years. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, concluded on July 21, with Spain defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final match.