Inglewood, California – A new economic forecast linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is starting to make the image clearer of how much the tournament could change communities all around the US.
New estimates say that visitors will spend about $556 million on things related to matches held in the country. This shows how much attention and money the world’s most watched sporting event is projected to bring. A lot of places will benefit, but one community in California is in a great position to get a big chunk of that surge.
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Inglewood, which is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan region, is expected to bring in roughly $59 million in spending linked to events. The number puts the city among the best-off U.S. hosts, behind only East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is expected to get $67 million.
According to a report, Inglewood’s predicted windfall will come from a combination of the stadium’s size, the number of matches scheduled, and the area’s strong appeal as an international transit center. The city’s high outlook is due to its close proximity to major airports, its large number of hotels, and its global name recognition.
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Arlington, Atlanta, and Seattle are the last three cities on the list of estimated beneficiaries. Each is expected to bring in tens of millions of dollars from visitors. Along with East Rutherford and Inglewood, these five cities are estimated to make up more than half of all World Cup-related spending in the US, which is roughly $288 million. The pattern is similar to what has happened at other big events in the past: big venues, good hospitality networks, and easy transit connections tend to bring in the most money.
Food and drink are expected to get the greatest money, which may be about half of all visitor spending. The next biggest category is lodging, which includes hotels and short-term rentals that are projected to stay in high demand throughout the tournament. Transportation, which includes both international flights and local travel, makes up the rest. This shows how long visitors stay in a place may affect many parts of its economy.
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There is still some uncertainty as final team qualifications continue to affect travel plans. Still, experts say that the total amount of money spent is more closely related to match schedules and hosting capabilities than to individual teams. The United States seems ready to handle the inflow because it has direct flights from every qualified country and more flights are becoming available.
As excitement grows, the expected benefits for Inglewood show that the excitement will last longer than just a few days. They point to a concentrated moment when global sport, tourism, and local infrastructure converge—delivering a measurable economic lift to one California city preparing to step onto the world stage.