The World Cup will draw millions of fans, but economic payoff is modest

The 2026 World Cup, set to kick off today, is poised to be the largest sporting event in history, spanning three countries and 16 cities. This monumental soccer tournament is expected to captivate an audience of approximately 6 billion people worldwide and attract 6.5 million fans to the games. A joint study conducted by FIFA and the World Trade Organization projected that the event would have a significant economic impact, boosting U.S. GDP by $17.2 billion and global GDP by $40.9 billion.

The White House has estimated that the World Cup could generate $30 billion for the U.S. economy, surpassing the economic impact of events like the Super Bowl. Job creation is also expected to receive a boost, with a notable increase in leisure and hospitality jobs leading up to the tournament.

Host cities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles, are anticipated to see a surge in economic activity during the event. Each host city is projected to experience between $160 million and $620 million in incremental economic activity, with international visitors expected to spend over $5,000 per person during their stay in the U.S.

In addition to being a massive sporting event, the 2026 World Cup is also expected to be one of the largest gambling events in history. Experts predict that people will wager $60 billion on the tournament through legal sportsbooks, with $2.9 billion coming from the U.S.

However, despite high hopes for a tourism boom, hotel sales for the event have been disappointing. Eighty percent of hoteliers across host cities reported that bookings were below initial forecasts, citing international travel barriers and rising costs as contributing factors. The high price of World Cup tickets, coupled with additional expenses like flights and accommodations, has also hindered fan attendance.

While the tournament is likely to draw fans from around the globe, some seats may remain empty due to high ticket prices. As of now, 29 games have sold out, while 75 still have tickets available, with remaining inventory leaning towards the higher end of the price scale.

Despite the temporary economic boost the World Cup will provide, Goldman Sachs predicts that the long-term effects on economic growth will be minimal. Most of the spending associated with the event will occur in countries outside of the host nations, limiting the lasting economic impact.

In conclusion, while the 2026 World Cup promises to be a monumental event with significant economic implications, the long-term gains for the host countries may be more limited than initially anticipated. As fans gear up for an exciting five weeks of soccer action, the economic legacy of the tournament remains to be seen.