Prospects for tourism and economic growth in North America in the context of the 2026 Fifa World Cup
Abstract
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a major event with a significant global social and economic impact. The tournament is expected to boost host countries’ tourist flows, economic growth, and infrastructure development. In this context, the study of its impact on the economic and tourism sectors is particularly relevant. The subject of the study is the impact of the preparation and holding of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the development of the tourism industry and the economy of North America ‒ the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico. The article is aimed at determining the prospects for tourism and economic growth in North America in terms of hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The study’s objectives are to identify the main tourist benefits of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and to analyse the expected economic benefits of the upcoming world football championship, including for individual cities. To ensure the objectivity of the study, the following scientific methods were used: analysis, synthesis, structural and logical generalisation, and systematisation. The main results of the study. The study identified the key tourism benefits of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for North American countries, in particular in the context of growing international tourist flows and enhancing the attractiveness of destinations. In addition, the study analysed the expected economic benefits of the tournament, including the potential impact on the socio-economic development of individual cities, such as infrastructure investment, job creation, and increased local budget revenues. Conclusions. The 2026 FIFA World Cup offers unprecedented opportunities for economic stimulus through tourism. The influx of tourists will generate significant economic activity, benefiting various sectors such as hospitality, transport, and retail. The development of tourism will create new jobs, and financial flows from the tourism sector will help stimulate various sectors of the economy.
Downloads
References
/References
Beautiful game, beautiful money: How the FIFA World Cup will boost the economy. URL: https://www.highlandernews.org/93627/beautiful-game-beautiful-money-how-the-fifa-world-cup-will-boost-the-economy/
Domareski Ruiz T. C., Chim Miki A. F., Dos Anjos F. A. Competitiveness, Economic Legacy and Tourism Impacts: World Cup. Investigaciones Turísticas. 2019. 17. pp. 49‒70. http://dx.doi.org/10.14198/INTURI2019.17.03
Economic Boost of Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. URL: https://www.topendsports.com/events/worldcupsoccer/hosts/2026/economic-boost.htm
Fett M. Does the FIFA World Cup Boost Economies around the World? An Empirical Analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3836066
FIFA World Cup Hospitality: Toronto’s Bold Plan for FIFA 2026 Tourism and Economic Growth Opportunities and Challenges. URL: https://footballworldcupticketss1.wordpress.com/2025/02/01/fifa-world-cup-hospitality-torontos-bold-plan-for-fifa-2026-tourism-and-economic-growth-opportunities-and-challenges/
How will the FIFA World Cup 26 impact tourism and services in New York and New Jersey? URL: https://www.youthmediaforward.com/p/how-will-the-fifa-world-cup-26-impact
Lan Anh Nguyen, Duc Minh Nguyen, Duc Huy Pham. Economical impact of sport events: evidence from euro, world cup. International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business. 2024. 6(2). рр. 49‒57. https://doi.org/10.33545/26633140.2024.v6.i2a.116
Mukendi M. H., Yin G., Adomako-Ansah J. The Economic Impact of Sport Events on Economy: Case Study on Qatar 2022 World Cup. Open Access Library Journal. 2025. 12: e13257. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113257
Nikolaou E. E., Konteos G., Kalogiannidis S., Syndoukas D. Mega sporting events and their socio-economic impact: Case study of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development. 2023. 7(2): 2158. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v7i2.2158
The 2026 World Cup in North America: Cultural and Economic Impact. URL: https://www.brandvm.com/post/2026-world-cup-usa-economic-impact
Travel and Tour World. URL: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/
Beautiful game, beautiful money: How the FIFA World Cup will boost the economy. Available at: https://www.highlandernews.org/93627/beautiful-game-beautiful-money-how-the-fifa-world-cup-will-boost-the-economy/
Domareski Ruiz, T. C., Chim Miki, A. F., Dos Anjos, F. A. (2019). Competitiveness, Economic Legacy and Tourism Impacts: World Cup. Investigaciones Turísticas, 17, pp. 49‒70. http://dx.doi.org/10.14198/INTURI2019.17.03
Economic Boost of Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Available at: https://www.topendsports.com/events/worldcupsoccer/hosts/2026/economic-boost.htm
Fett, M. (2021). Does the FIFA World Cup Boost Economies around the World? An Empirical Analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3836066
FIFA World Cup Hospitality: Toronto’s Bold Plan for FIFA 2026 Tourism and Economic Growth Opportunities and Challenges. Available at: https://footballworldcupticketss1.wordpress.com/2025/02/01/fifa-world-cup-hospitality-torontos-bold-plan-for-fifa-2026-tourism-and-economic-growth-opportunities-and-challenges/
How will the FIFA World Cup 26 impact tourism and services in New York and New Jersey? Available at: https://www.youthmediaforward.com/p/how-will-the-fifa-world-cup-26-impact
Lan Anh Nguyen, Duc Minh Nguyen, Duc Huy Pham. (2024). Economical impact of sport events: evidence from euro, world cup. International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business, 6(2), рр. 49‒57. https://doi.org/10.33545/26633140.2024.v6.i2a.116
Mukendi, M. H., Yin, G., Adomako-Ansah, J. (2025). The Economic Impact of Sport Events on Economy: Case Study on Qatar 2022 World Cup. Open Access Library Journal, 2: e13257. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113257
Nikolaou, E. E., Konteos, G., Kalogiannidis, S., Syndoukas, D. (2023). Mega sporting events and their socio-economic impact: Case study of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 7(2): 2158. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v7i2.2158
The 2026 World Cup in North America: Cultural and Economic Impact. Available at: https://www.brandvm.com/post/2026-world-cup-usa-economic-impact
Travel and Tour World. Available at: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication of this work under the terms of a license Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
