Spending rose nearly 25 per cent in Canada’s host cities during match days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to data from Visa Inc.
Sign In or Create an Account
Toronto and Vancouver hosted 13 matches during this year’s World Cup run. Visa said its data reveals the tournament left a measurable economic impact on local businesses across the two host cities.
In Toronto, spending during match days rose as much as 24.6 per cent, while spending in Vancouver was up 12.7 per cent, said the payment card services giant.
“(This highlights) how major sporting events can create temporary and highly concentrated ‘pop-up economies’ driven by increased consumer spending and international visitors,” it said.
Visa said its analysis of card-present spending during the tournament period found that Toronto saw the largest matchday spending lift when Germany faced Côte d’Ivoire on June 20. Spending was 24.6 per cent more than the average daily spending during that same window in 2025.
It added that Vancouver experienced a notable spending increase when Australia faced Türkiye on June 13, with spending rising 12.7 per cent. Canada’s group-stage home game match against Qatar in Vancouver on June 18 drove a 4.9 per cent spending lift for the city.
The data used were for spending using Visa cards, including at stadiums, between June 11 to July 17, 2026 versus the same days in 2025.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 showed how the power of sport brings people together and creates real economic opportunity for Canadian communities,” said Michiel Wielhouwer, Visa Canada’s president and country manager. “Canada’s host cities demonstrated how major events can create immediate opportunities for businesses of all sizes…”
• Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com
- Posthaste: 57% of Canadians prefer to keep their finances completely or mostly separate from their partner, survey finds News
- There are signs of hope in Canada's housing market. But is it time to use the 'b-word'? Real Estate
- Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
- Can a GIC-only RRSP, TFSA and LIRA generate enough for Miles’s retirement? Personal Finance
- Our federal government keeps trying to defy economic gravity and failing Personal Finance
- Suncor Energy triples profits, doubles royalty payments Energy
Source: Financial Post
