The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be one of the largest sporting events in the world, attracting millions of fans and generating billions in economic activity.
According to a new Bank of America report, the tournament could contribute about $41 billion to the global economy and support more than 800,000 jobs around the world.
The United States is expected to see major benefits from hosting matches during the tournament. The report estimates the event could generate more than $17 billion in U.S. economic activity and create roughly 185,000 jobs across different industries.
Many businesses are expected to benefit from the influx of visitors. As Michael Hartnett of Bank of America noted, “it’s a number of industries that will benefit from it, obviously travel,” along with food, drink and hospitality businesses.
Beyond the financial impact, the report describes the tournament as the first-ever “AI World Cup” because of the massive amount of digital data it is expected to generate.
With billions of people expected to watch and interact online, experts believe the event could produce unprecedented levels of internet traffic and AI-driven engagement.
