business
World Cup spending surge surprises economists, boosts local economies across U.S. host cities
By Peter Zampa at Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News
· July 18, 2026
· 2 min read
NEW YORK CITY (Gray DC) - The FIFA World Cup has delivered an economic boost to businesses across the United States. Data from the Bank of America Institute suggests each of the 11 host cities have seen increased spending during the tournament.Joe Wadford, an economist with Bank of America Instit...
Key takeaway Joe Wadford, an economist with Bank of America Institute, said last month credit and debit card spending was up 6.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The economic boost from the FIFA World Cup is a welcome surprise for Atlanta businesses, particularly local retailers and restaurants. As one of the 11 host cities, Atlanta has likely seen a significant increase in spending, with residents and visitors alike taking advantage of the city's amenities. The fact that credit and debit card spending was up 6.3% compared to June 2025 suggests that the tournament has had a broad impact on the local economy. This surge in spending is especially notable given concerns about elevated gas prices, which had raised questions about the tournament's potential economic benefits. With international visitors adding to the spending totals, Atlanta's economy is likely to feel the positive effects of the World Cup for some time. As the city looks to capitalize on this momentum, it will be worth watching how local businesses and officials work to sustain the economic growth generated by the tournament.
About this story
Original reporting by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: business ·
Published: July 18, 2026 ·
Source: Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? NEW YORK CITY (Gray DC) - The FIFA World Cup has delivered an economic boost to businesses across the United States. Data from the Bank of America Institute suggests each of the 11 host cities have seen increased spending during the tournament.Joe Wadford, an economist with Bank of America Instit...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 18, 2026 by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Peter Zampa at Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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