Report: FIFA Men’s World Cup Could Kick In $81B Boost In U.S. Economy
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 03:38PM By Barry Janoff
June 10, 2026: The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is all about numbers: A record three nations — U.S., Canada and Mexico — hosting a record 48 squads and 104 matches over the course of June 11 to July 19.
It’s also about economics.
The event is expected to generate “significant short-term economic activity in the United States, including up to $81 billion in incremental quarterly GDP, driven by tourism, hospitality and consumer spending,” according to a new report from BMO Economics.
(Editor's Note: Gross Domestic Product, the total monetary or market value of all finished goods and services produced within a country's borders during a specific period. It serves as a comprehensive scorecard of a given country's economic health and overall size.)
The analysis shows the United States is expected to attract roughly four-fifths of total fan spending across North America, supported by a higher concentration of host cities, larger stadium capacities and increased international and domestic travel demand.
"Despite bookings lagging behind initial expectatns in the United States, the sheer volume of matches being played in the U.S. nearly assures the bulk of the economic benefit still lands domestically," Scott Anderson, BMO U.S. chief economist, said via the Canada-based financial firm.
Hotels, airlines, restaurants and entertainment venues are expected to see the most significant uptick in demand. Employment in these sectors may also see a modest, temporary boost.
Not all cities will benefit equally from tourism. Assuming sellout attendance, Dallas will garner about 12% of total fan spending by virtue of its larger-capacity stadium and the most number of scheduled games (9).
The Top Five also includes New York/New Jersey (which is hosting the Final), Atlanta, Los Angeles and Houston. (See full list of host cities here.)
BMO Field, renamed Toronto Stadium, is hosting World Cup games.
"Tourism-related gains primarily flow through traveller accommodations, air transportation, and food services, which together account for about 54% of tourism value added. That industry also represents a larger share of the U.S. economy (about 3%) than of Canada’s (under 2%), implying that the U.S. stands to benefit more from the tourism channel," according to the report.
However, benefits and costs may not necessarily align. BMO Financial says Toronto and Vancouver “have faced some of the largest cost overruns among all 2026 host cities, driven by inflation, FIFA-mandated stadium upgrades, temporary seating expansions, and sharply higher security requirements.”
“The 2026 World Cup will provide a modest lift to economic growth this summer that is widely dispersed among businesses in the host cities. One consideration, however, is that the public costs — especially in Canada — are highly concentrated, leaving governments to absorb somewhat larger debts.
“The economic case for hosting is strongest as a short-term demand bump, not as a foundation for long-run growth. Still, that shouldn't detract from the enjoyment of hosting the marquee event of the
world's most widely watched sport.
"These gains are significant, but they are not permanent," said Porter. "They reflect a surge in activity tied to the event rather than a long-term shift in economic growth."
See the full report here.
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