New York City Mayor Mamdani announced on September 30 that the 2026 World Cup brought an estimated $20 billion in economic benefits to the city this summer. This includes roughly $12 billion in direct visitor spending and $1.62 billion in event operation expenses, supporting approximately 12,100 job positions.
According to the analysis by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and research institution Tourism Economics, all five boroughs of New York City benefited during the World Cup. Compared to the same period last year, international Visa card spending increased by 12% in Manhattan, 19% in Brooklyn, and 6% in Queens. The hotel occupancy rates in the Bronx and Staten Island combined increased by 6%. The foot traffic in sports bars citywide also rose by 16% compared to the previous year.
This year, the World Cup held 8 matches at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, with the total economic impact estimated at $3.5 billion for the entire New York-New Jersey region, with New York City accounting for 56% of that total.