July 28, 2026, 2:36 p.m.
On July 22, 2026, San Francisco time, Visa announced that following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 26, many fans from around the world returned home with unforgettable memories. The excitement during the tournament reportedly generated economic activity that extended beyond national borders.Each contactless payment made during the tournament left a tangible impact, contributing to the revitalization of local economies and merchant businesses in the host cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
According to the latest data from Visa, the tournament drove significant growth in cross-border spending, international travel, and digital commerce in the host cities.This data demonstrates that major global events like this create “Pop-Up Economies.” Visa defines Pop-Up Economies as temporary, concentrated economic activity centered around large-scale events such as cultural, entertainment, and sporting events.
The data also revealed that as fans from around the world visited each host city to support their teams, spending by Visa cardholders increased significantly across a wide range of sectors, including restaurants, transportation, entertainment, retail, and lodging.The economic impact of the tournament reportedly extended beyond the major host cities to new gathering places for fans, creating a broad impact that reached even beyond the stadiums.
Visa’s data reveals the scale, scope, and dynamism of the economic activity generated during the tournament.
Cross-border Visa transactions in the 26 host cities of the FIFA World Cup increased by approximately 20% year-over-year during the tournament.
Cross-border spending in the host cities was particularly high among fans visiting from Colombia, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Brazil.
The cities with the highest growth in in-person spending by international and domestic Visa cardholders were Santa Clara/San Jose, Boston, and Miami.
Consumer spending was concentrated in the transportation and entertainment sectors, indicating that travel for the tournament generated broad economic benefits.
In addition, contactless payment transactions increased by approximately 12%, suggesting that fans traveling for the tournament prefer a fast, secure, and seamless payment experience.
The Ecuador vs. Curaçao and Colombia vs. Ghana matches held in Kansas City, as well as the Croatia vs. Ghana match held in Philadelphia, are examples of games that saw particularly large year-over-year increases in spending, with consumer activity surging both before and after kickoff.
Although the matches took place inside the stadiums, their economic impact extended throughout the local communities. As fans enjoyed sightseeing and exploring the host cities in addition to watching the matches, consumer activity picked up across a wide range of industries, including restaurants, bars, retail stores, hotels, transportation, and entertainment venues. By category, each city reportedly saw distinctive growth.
In Boston, year-over-year growth in food and beverage-related transactions was the highest, as fans cheered on their national teams at local bars and restaurants.
In Guadalajara, transportation-related spending saw the largest growth as fans from around the world made their way to the stadium.
In Atlanta, entertainment-related spending grew against the backdrop of fan celebrations and cultural events, while retail spending increased in New York City.
These trends demonstrate that the benefits of the “pop-up economy” extend throughout the host cities. These benefits reached not only businesses directly involved in the tournament but also a wide range of merchants—including local restaurants, independent retailers, hotels, transportation providers, and global brands—that cater to visitors’ everyday needs.
As an example of the ripple effect on economic activity, the Norwegian national team’s unexpected run to the quarterfinals spurred fans worldwide to cheer them on, leading to a significant increase in consumer spending and commercial activity not only in Norway but also around the globe. Within Norway, the number of Visa transactions nearly doubled during the tournament.Furthermore, as the Norwegian national team advanced, the number of countries where increased transaction activity was observed grew, and ultimately, spending increased in more than 60 countries worldwide during the team’s matches. This reportedly demonstrates that fan passion and support have the power to create a “pop-up economy.”