World Cup Fans Spend Big in US Cities

Visa has released transaction data showing that the FIFA World Cup 2026 led to a significant increase in spending, with Santa Clara/San Jose, Boston, and Miami recording the highest spending. According to the data, dining, food, and beverage merchants were among the biggest beneficiaries of this spending.

The tournament, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, ran from June 11 to July 19. During this time, cross-border transactions rose nearly 20 percent year over year in host cities.

Visa’s analysis of fan spending found that transportation and entertainment drew the heaviest spending overall. Tap-to-pay transactions also rose nearly 12 percent. The company describes this pattern as a temporary, concentrated burst of commercial activity forming around a major cultural or sporting event.

Cardholders from Colombia, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Brazil generated the highest cross-border spending. Boston led all host cities in year-over-year growth in dining transactions as fans gathered in local bars and restaurants.

Frank Cooper III, chief marketing officer at Visa, said that FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrated how global events can create far-reaching economic value for businesses, cities, and communities. He added that for a few precious days, entire cities came alive with new visitors, new spending, and new opportunities for local businesses.

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The data also showed that individual matches produced measurable spikes in spending. For example, Ecuador versus Curacao and Colombia versus Ghana, both in Kansas City, generated some of the highest year-over-year increases in spending.

Norway’s run to the quarterfinals nearly doubled Visa transaction volumes in that country during matches, with increased activity eventually recorded in more than 60 countries when Norway played.

Guadalajara posted the highest growth in transportation spending, while Atlanta saw strong entertainment activity tied to fan celebrations. New York City recorded a surge in retail spending. These regional spending patterns highlight the diverse impact of the World Cup on local economies.

The U.S. and Canada figures cover Visa card-present volume from June 11 to July 19, while Mexico figures cover cross-border volume from June 11 to July 5. All comparisons are against the same period in 2025.

With Visa facilitating digital payments in over 200 countries and territories, the company is well-positioned to track and analyze the spending patterns of fans around the world.