FIFA estimates its next two summer tournaments – primarily hosted in the United States – will generate $47 billion in economic impact and provide 290,000 jobs in the country, with $62 billion in gross domestic product globally, the soccer governing body said in a news release this week.
FIFA and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat released two studies to showcase potential socioeconomic impact in the U.S. and globally from this summer’s Club World Cup 2025 and next summer’s World Cup 2026.
The Club World Cup could help generate up to $21.1 billion in global GDP, including $9.6 billion in the U.S.
It could also generate $17.1 billion in gross output and unlock $3.36 billion in social benefits across the U.S., while supporting the creation of approximately 105,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs.
World Cup 2026 could help drive up to $40.9 billion in GDP, with $8.28 billion in social benefits and the creation of nearly 824,000 jobs globally. Specifically for the U.S., OE estimates 185,000 FTE jobs could be created, with $30.5 billion in gross output and $17.2 billion in GDP.
The analysis also estimates 3.7 million fans will attend Club World Cup matches this summer, while 6.5 million people are expected to attend World Cup matches in 2026.
FIFA says the studies aim to capture both tangible and intangible benefits through structured and comprehensive analysis that includes direct, indirect and induced contributions. The studies were developed by OpenEconomics (OE), an independent body that supports institutions and companies in designing policies and investment projects.
The analysis adopts both the Impact Analysis methodology and Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology aligned with Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines, to evaluate the value generated relative to the investments made.
To provide a comprehensive picture, the analysis uses an inter-country social accounting matrix (SAM) with a breakdown into 45 productive sectors and 76 different countries. Key data comprised of international benchmarks from organizations such as the World Bank, OECD, ILOSTAT, UNECE, WTO and UNWTO. The same methodology has been applied across both reports.
When is the 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 World Cup?
The 2025 Club World Cup begins with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on center stage against Egyptian club Al Alhy on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The final will be July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Club World Cup matches will also be hosted in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington D.C.
The World Cup begins June 11, 2026 and ends with the final at MetLife Stadium July 19, 2026. World Cup games in the U.S. will be played in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and near the Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. World Cup games will also be played in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
