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Economic boost from 2026 Fifa World Cup may not live up to the hype

Big sporting events promise a boost to the host’s economy, but it is not a guarantee

    • Fifa projects that the World Cup could inject more than US$40 billion to global GDP, despite the significant challenges lying ahead.
    • Fifa projects that the World Cup could inject more than US$40 billion to global GDP, despite the significant challenges lying ahead. PHOTO: REUTERS
    Published Fri, Jun 12, 2026 · 12:00 PM

    THE 2026 Fifa World Cup kicked off on Thursday (Jun 11) to much excitement, but football fans are not the only ones keeping an eye on the event.

    Governments will be monitoring the economic impact of the games. However, while the tournament will provide a significant stimulus to North America, its effects may not be nearly as substantial globally as some forecasts indicate.

    To be sure, some big sporting events do prove to not only be sporting successes, but also economic ones.