The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering its biggest economic payoff later than many businesses expected as fans wait until the tournament's decisive matches before booking flights, hotels, and tickets.
With the semifinals now underway, U.S. host cities are experiencing a sharp increase in revenue as supporters from around the world converge to watch soccer's biggest stage. After weeks of uncertainty over bookings, economists and travel analysts say the tournament is now producing the kind of spending surge many local businesses had anticipated before kickoff.
