$3.5B Generated from FIFA World Cup for NYNJ, Mamdani Comments as Full Economic Impact Released

The FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee announced Wednesday that the World Cup generated $3.5 billion in total economic impact for the New York-New Jersey area this summer.

At $3.5 billion, the total economic impact surpassed initial projections of $3.3 billion, and included $1.9 billion in direct spending, $1.4 billion in total labor income and $414.2 million in total state and local tax revenues.

The 2026 World Cup also created 27,424 full- and part-time jobs in the New York-New Jersey area.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani commented on how hosting the World Cup benefited New York and New Jersey, saying, "We said the World Cup belonged to New Yorkers, and the numbers back it up. $3.5 billion moved through our region and more than 27,000 people got paid because of it—the cook in Sunset Park, the cab driver in Corona, the small business owner running the halal cart outside a watch party in Harlem. We proved a city can grow its economy and support working people at the same time."

Included in the breakdown of the total economic impact in New York and New Jersey was $653 million spent on lodging, $346 million on food and beverage, $264 million on retail, $200 million on transportation and $195 million on recreation and entertainment.

Of the 104 matches played at the World Cup, eight of them were held at MetLife Stadium, which is the shared home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

That included the World Cup final on July 19, which saw Spain beat Argentina in extra time to win their second-ever World Cup title.

In its entirety, the 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time World Cup games were held in the U.S. since 1994.