Overview of the 2026 FIFA World Cup expectations and economic impact

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This edition will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches across 16 cities, marking the largest tournament in the event's history. FIFA and WTO projections estimate the event will contribute approximately $41 billion to the global GDP and create over 800,000 jobs. Analysts from Bank of America expect a total stadium attendance of 6.5 million, with about 6 billion people interacting with the tournament. AI will play a central role, utilizing millions of data points to assist teams and broadcast operations. While Bank of America analysts favor France for the title, with Kylian Mbappe as top scorer, AI-based simulations suggest a more competitive outcome involving Spain.