Visa: World Cup led to economic boosts in these cities...
The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a conclusion on July 19, and to no surprise, the global soccer tournament had a large economic impact on the North American host cities.
According to new data from Visa, the World Cup drove significant growth in cross-border spending, international travel and digital commerce across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Cross-border Visa transactions in host cities increased nearly 20% year over year during the tournament period, with Santa Clara and San Jose, Calif., Boston and Miami recording the largest increases in in-person spending from international and domestic cardholders.
Visa found that fans from Colombia, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil generated the highest levels of cross-border spend across host cities. Overall, consumers spent most heavily on transportation and entertainment.
[READ MORE: Study: World Cup opening match boosted retail, restaurant visits in LA]
“This was one of the most impactful FIFA World Cup tournaments we’ve seen to date both on and off the pitch,” said Frank Cooper III, chief marketing officer at Visa. “FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrated how global events can create far-reaching economic value for businesses, cities and communities. For a few precious days, entire cities came alive with new visitors, new spending and new opportunities for local businesses.”
Several cities achieved standout performance in specific categories. Boston led growth in year-over-year dining transactions as fans celebrated at local bars and restaurants, while Guadalajara recorded the highest transportation spending growth as fans from around the world traveled to the stadium. Atlanta saw strong entertainment activity tied to fan celebrations and cultural events, while New York City experienced a strong surge in retail spending.
Select matches also saw an outsized amount of economic activity. Ecuador vs. Curaçao and Colombia vs. Ghana, both held in Kansas City, and Croatia vs. Ghana in Philadelphia, were examples of matches that generated the highest year-over-year uplift in spending, creating significant spikes before, during and after kickoff, according to Visa.
“Through Visa’s network, we could watch those economies emerge, move from city to city and connect millions of fans with the merchants and communities hosting the world’s biggest sporting event,” added Cooper III.
Visa’s report includes all Visa card-present volume in the U.S. and Canada as well as Visa card-present cross-border volume in Mexico compared against the same period in 2025. The date range for the U.S. and Canada was between June 11 and July 19, 2026, while the date range for Mexico was from June 11 to July 5, 2026.
