World Cup fans fueled the strongest consumer spending growth in four years
Subscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest business news.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup left a clear mark on consumer spending across the US. Bank of America card data indicates June produced the strongest annual increase in consumer spending in more than four years, with host cities recording notable gains in restaurant visits and local retail activity.
Total credit and debit card spending increased 6.3% from a year earlier during June, while spending excluding gasoline rose 5.6%. The figures suggest discretionary spending remained healthy despite higher borrowing costs and ongoing pressure on household budgets. Several factors contributed to the increase, but the timing and location of spending indicate the World Cup helped drive activity in host markets.
Rather than lifting spending evenly across the country, the tournament concentrated activity in cities staging matches, providing an immediate benefit for businesses serving international visitors and domestic travelers.
The tournament created a concentrated wave of consumer spending
Consumer spending had shown resilience before the summer, but Bank of America’s transaction data indicates activity accelerated after the World Cup began in mid-June. Restaurants, bars and entertainment venues recorded some of the strongest gains as supporters gathered to watch matches and celebrate.
Host cities outperformed comparable markets. According to the bank, restaurant spending growth accelerated by roughly two percentage points in cities hosting matches after the tournament began, while restaurant spending elsewhere remained relatively flat.
Retailers also benefited, particularly businesses located near stadiums, transport hubs and entertainment districts. Unlike many online purchases, World Cup-related spending occurred where visitors stayed, ate and attended matches. Hotels, convenience stores, sporting goods retailers and local attractions all captured additional demand.
Lower gasoline prices also helped households allocate more money toward discretionary purchases. Spending excluding fuel still posted strong growth, reinforcing the view that consumers continued spending on experiences despite economic uncertainty.
Bank of America noted that the timing of online promotions may have influenced some year-over-year comparisons. Even so, the contrast between host and non-host cities points to the tournament as an important contributor to local spending.
Host cities captured the biggest economic gains
Large sporting events often promise economic benefits, although measuring those gains is rarely straightforward. In this case, transaction data provides a detailed picture of where spending occurred rather than relying only on economic forecasts.
Restaurants ranked among the biggest beneficiaries as visitors spent before matches, after final whistles and throughout nearby entertainment districts. Retailers also experienced stronger foot traffic, particularly businesses selling apparel, food, beverages and travel essentials.
Bank of America found that lower-income households recorded the largest increase in local in-store spending within host cities. Every income group increased restaurant spending during the tournament, although spending patterns varied across categories and locations. The findings suggest the economic activity extended beyond affluent international visitors.
The results also provide a useful lesson for city planners. The value of hosting global sporting events depends not only on visitor numbers but also on how much spending remains with local businesses. Restaurants, hotels, transport providers and independent retailers located near venues appear to have captured much of the additional demand.
The lasting test comes after the final whistle
The World Cup generated additional consumer spending during June, but its long-term economic contribution will take longer to assess. Card transaction data captures immediate purchases, while tourism, employment, repeat visits and tax revenue require further measurement.
Future government consumer spending reports will show whether June represented a short-lived spike or the beginning of stronger household spending during the second half of the year. Economists will also examine whether consumers increased overall spending or simply shifted purchases to coincide with the tournament.
For businesses in host cities, the immediate benefits were clear. Restaurants welcomed larger crowds, retailers attracted more customers and local economies received an increase in spending during a period when many businesses remained cautious about consumer demand.
The tournament demonstrated that global sporting events can produce measurable local economic gains when visitors spend within host communities. While the impact varied from city to city, June’s spending data suggests the World Cup generated benefits that extended well beyond the matches themselves.
Source
