SKN | Bank of America Report Shows World Cup Boosted Spending Across North Texas

Key Takeaways

• Bank of America’s World Cup analysis found card spending in host cities increased about 5% year over year during the tournament.
• Dallas recorded approximately 3% year-over-year growth in card spending, while Kansas City saw a stronger 7% increase.
• The tournament produced a more concentrated economic impact in host cities than across the broader U.S. economy, with spending gains partly reflecting a shift in consumption toward host locations.

Bank of America’s analysis of the 2026 FIFA World Cup provides a clearer picture of how a major global sporting event translated into consumer activity across the United States.

For Mike Pavell, Bank of America’s Fort Worth market president, the impact was visible from his office above Sundance Square, where crowds gathered to watch matches throughout the tournament.

The bank was also the official bank of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving it a direct connection to an event that generated substantial activity across host markets.

According to Bank of America credit and debit card data, card spending in World Cup host cities increased approximately 5% year over year during the tournament.

Dallas and Kansas City Showed Different Degrees of Impact

The spending impact varied across host markets.

Dallas recorded approximately 3% year-over-year growth in card spending, while Kansas City posted a stronger 7% increase.

Bank of America analysts noted that Kansas City was starting from a smaller spending base, meaning the percentage increase may have represented a greater local economic impact.

The figures provide a useful distinction for investors and policymakers. A major international event does not necessarily produce the same economic effect across every host city. Existing economic scale, visitor volumes and the concentration of event-related activity can materially influence the outcome.

Why the National Economic Impact Was More Limited

Although host cities experienced stronger consumer spending, Bank of America found that the effect on overall U.S. consumer spending and gross domestic product was more modest.

The scale of the U.S. economy provides an important explanation. Spending generated by international visitors and domestic fans in host cities can represent a meaningful local boost without materially changing nationwide consumption.

There was also likely a reallocation effect, with consumers shifting some spending away from nonhost cities toward locations hosting World Cup matches.

For wealth and investment analysis, this distinction matters. Local economic gains do not automatically translate into a comparable national growth impulse.

Younger Consumers Played a Growing Role

The World Cup also highlighted changing patterns in consumer spending.

According to Bank of America’s report, non-baby-boomer consumers accounted for most of the increase in spending associated with the tournament.

That provides another useful signal for businesses operating in hospitality, entertainment, travel and consumer services. Large international sporting events can concentrate spending among younger demographic groups while creating opportunities for local businesses to capture visitor demand.

For financial institutions tracking consumer behavior, transaction data can therefore provide an unusually detailed view of how major events influence spending patterns across demographic and geographic segments.

Fort Worth Looks Beyond the Tournament

Local officials are also focused on whether the benefits of the World Cup can extend beyond the tournament itself.

Michael E. Nalley, director of hospitality management and professor of practice at the University of Texas at Arlington, said the additional data could help local leaders evaluate the event and improve planning for future large-scale events.

Bank of America has also supported a longer-term community investment in Fort Worth.

The bank helped establish Visa Street Soccer Park at Hillside Park, which opened March 28. The project transformed an underused tennis court into a street soccer mini-pitch through a partnership involving the city of Fort Worth, Visa, Street Soccer USA and Bank of America.

For Pavell, the objective was to ensure that the World Cup’s presence generated a lasting community asset rather than disappearing when the tournament ended.

What the Data Means for Investors

The Bank of America findings demonstrate why major sporting events should be assessed at both the local and national levels.

For host cities, increased visitor spending can provide meaningful support to hospitality, restaurants, retail and other consumer-facing businesses. At the national level, however, the impact can be considerably smaller when spending is redistributed rather than newly created.

The data also reinforces the value of transaction-level information for understanding economic behavior. Credit and debit card activity can reveal where consumers are spending, how quickly activity changes and which markets are benefiting from major events.

For investors evaluating regional economies, these indicators can complement traditional measures such as employment, tourism and retail sales.

Closing Insights

The 2026 FIFA World Cup appears to have delivered its clearest economic effect at the city level, with Bank of America reporting approximately 5% year-over-year card-spending growth across host cities.

Dallas experienced a more moderate 3% increase, while Kansas City recorded a 7% rise. Yet the national economic effect remained more limited, reflecting the size of the U.S. economy and the likelihood that some consumer spending was redirected toward host cities rather than representing entirely new consumption.

For Fort Worth, the longer-term significance may ultimately extend beyond the spending data. Bank of America’s involvement in the Visa Street Soccer Park provides a physical community investment intended to preserve part of the tournament’s legacy after the global event has ended.

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