The Impact of the World Cup on the US Economy

The 2026 World Cup, hosted across 11 US cities, is expected to drive temporary, short-lived positive growth in payrolls, consumer spending, and inflation during June and July. These effects are forecasted to reverse starting in August, with subsequent impacts on economic data proving modest.

Key Takeaways

• 1.The 2026 World Cup is expected to provide a short-lived economic boost, adding 40k to payrolls in June and 0.1pp to annualized GDP in Q2.
• 2.Economic effects will largely reverse as temporary positions end and activity normalizes, leading to drags on payrolls and GDP starting in August and Q4.

Table of Contents

• Impact on Payrolls
• Impact on GDP
• Impact on Inflation
• The Impact of the World Cup on Upcoming Data Releases
• The US Economic and Financial Outlook
• Disclosure Appendix