Visa data shows that the World Cup 2026 generated a roughly 20% rise in cross‑border card transactions across the North American host cities, according to figures released after the tournament.
Cross‑border spending spikes in transport, dining and entertainment
The surge was most evident among visitors from Colombia, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil, whose cards recorded the highest levels of international spending. Cities such as Santa Clara, San Jose, Boston and Miami logged the largest increases in in‑person purchases by both foreign and domestic Visa users.
Transportation and entertainment venues absorbed the bulk of the extra spending, suggesting that the influx of fans benefited more than just stadium vendors. In Boston, dining transactions grew the most year over year, while Guadalajara led the rise in transport‑related purchases. Atlanta saw strong entertainment activity linked to fan celebrations, and New York City reported a notable jump in retail sales.
These patterns indicate that major sporting events can disperse commercial activity throughout a city, reaching neighborhood restaurants, independent stores, transit operators and cultural venues.
Contactless payments and “pop‑up economies”
Tap‑to‑pay usage climbed nearly 12% during the tournament, reflecting a shift toward contactless methods that simplify transactions for large crowds. Visa’s chief marketing officer, Frank Cooper III, said the event created “pop‑up economies”—brief periods of heightened commercial activity driven by fan movement.
Contactless options are especially useful when merchants must serve many customers quickly, and they give travelers a convenient alternative to cash or PIN entry. The data suggest that the World Cup not only attracted new customers but also altered how those customers paid for transport, meals, merchandise and entertainment.
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While Visa’s figures capture activity on its own network, they do not include cash purchases, other payment platforms or the costs of hosting the event. As such, the numbers should be viewed as a partial view of the tournament’s broader economic impact.
Individual matches produced especially pronounced spending spikes. Visa identified games such as Ecuador versus Curaçao and Colombia versus Ghana in Kansas City, as well as Croatia versus Ghana in Philadelphia, as fixtures linked to some of the highest year‑over‑year transaction increases. The activity occurred before, during and after kickoff, highlighting the extended commercial footprint of each match.
Fans drove local economies.
Overall, the tournament’s commercial footprint resembled a series of short‑lived economies rather than a single, uniform spending event. Each host city experienced its own influx of visitors, with activity shifting according to the teams, match schedule and local attractions. As supporters moved between destinations, their spending followed.
Visa’s data, while limited to its payment network, demonstrate the scale and speed at which a global sporting event can reshape commerce. For host communities, the World Cup offered concentrated opportunities to serve new customers. For merchants, the experience highlighted the importance of being ready for international demand and offering familiar digital payment options.