Read our full analysis for a more in-depth look at these trends.
On the Ball: Local economies score when sports kick off
We find the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup boosted spending significantly in the areas where the games were played.
August 2025
Key takeaways
- Consumer demand for live entertainment ─ especially sports ─ has surged since the pandemic, with attendance well above 2019 levels and spending up 25%.
- This is good news for the areas that host sport stadiums. Bank of America credit and debit card data shows that this year's FIFA Club World Cup drove a 7% YoY rise in consumer spending in host zip codes, mainly on food and drink. Similarly, regular season Major League Baseball (MLB) games show a similar positive impact.
- To understand the full economic impact we need to include factors such as capital costs, but the local spending boost is a good starting point ─ especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup expected to deliver an even greater kick.
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