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New York City says the World Cup delivered a $2B boost to its economy
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 30, 2026
Modified Sep 30, 2026
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Bess Adler / Gothamist
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 30, 2026
Modified Sep 30, 2026
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Spain may have won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but New York City officials say the local economy scored big too.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday said the tournament — eight of the 104 matches were hosted at MetLife Stadium — delivered an estimated $2 billion economic boost to New York City, according to a preliminary analysis. That included $1.3 billion in direct visitor and operational spending, or the day-to-day World Cup-related purchases made by businesses.
The broader New York-New Jersey area saw a total economic impact of $3.5 billion, according to the analytics firm Tourism Economics.
The NYC Economic Development Corporation worked with the firm to calculate out-of-town visitors' spending on lodging, food and beverage, retail, entertainment, and transportation. The analysis also examined the broader economic activity generated by that spending, including business purchases and spending by workers who earned extra income from tournament-related activities.
“From restaurant servers and bartenders to hotel workers and small business owners, New Yorkers helped turn a global sporting event into a meaningful economic win for our city,” said NYC EDC CEO Anthony Shorris.
The analysis also found a 16% year-over-year spike in foot traffic at sports bars in the city during the 39 days of the World Cup, and that direct visitor and operational spending supported more than 12,000 jobs across hospitality, food service, retail, and other industries.
Watch parties across the five boroughs invited visitors and New Yorkers alike to neighborhoods far beyond MetLife Stadium, increasing spending in those areas, officials said. Analysis by NYC Tourism found that international Visa card spending increased by 12% year-over-year in Manhattan, 19% in Brooklyn, and 6% in Queens during the tournament. In Staten Island and the Bronx, hotel occupancy also increased by 6%.
“This summer, we proved that the people’s game can still belong to the people — to the deli owners, cab drivers and line cooks who welcomed visitors from around the globe to New York City and powered the World Cup,” Mamdani said. “We didn’t want the benefits of this tournament to stop at the stadium gates.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
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Catalina Gonella
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