World Cup hands US economy $20B boost with host cities like Kansas City, Philly cashing in big, BofA says

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has given a $20 billion boost to the US economy, according to Bank of America, sparking massive local booms in host cities and helping propel the strongest surge in consumer spending in more than four years.BofA CEO Brian Moynihan said half of the tournament’s $40 billion in fresh economic activity has been funneled to the US, and that the footprint extends far beyond the turnstiles.The bank’s 70 million consumer customers, who spend more than $400 billion a month, are shelling out 5% to 6% more than a year ago.“Even when we look into host cities like a Kansas City, we can see the growth rate in spending faster than other cities,” Moynihan said.

“So it’s having this on-the-ground economic impact, and that spending is going into what we call bricks-and-mortar — going to bars and restaurants and things like that — not necessarily only the people in the stadium.”Americans are spending at their fastest clip since early 2022.Total credit and debit card spending jumped 6.3% year over year in June, or 5.6% after stripping out gasoline, economists at the financial giant found.Government data tells the same story.

US retail and food services sales climbed 6.7% from a year earlier in June, the fifth straight monthly increase, with second-quarter sales up 6.4% from 2025, the Census Bureau reported..Spending at bars and restaurants — the categories most exposed to World Cup crowds — ran 3.8% ahead of last year.Bank of America’s data shows airline and leisure spending posted double-digit growth in June, while clothing rose 7% and general merchandise 5%.

The BofA report does not include spending by foreign visitors, meaning the overall economic impact is undoubtedly far higher.According to the New York/New Jersey Host Committee, fans spent $1.2 billion in June in alone, generating a total economic impact of $2.1 billion.In that same time, the host committee says $228 million in tax revenue was generated as well.The tournament’...