The tournament has transformed the rhythm of hospitality businesses around East Rutherford and other host cities, including Kansas City, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Establishments have reportedly opened earlier, extended shifts and added staff to cope with supporters arriving for matches and fan events.
For owners, the commercial upside is clear: packed tables, busy bars and football conversations running from morning into the evening. For servers, however, heavier footfall does not always mean better earnings when customers come from countries where service is already included in the price.
At McCarthy’s Pub NYC, waitress Louise Daggett described the confusion faced by some international groups. “Eles perguntam. Dizem: ‘Como eu faço isso?’” she said, explaining that she tells visitors tipping is an important local custom. Her account presents the issue less as bad manners than a cultural mismatch.
American tipping remains unusually visible and often places a large part of a server’s income in the hands of customers. Visitors unused to calculating an additional payment may not realise what is expected, particularly after spending heavily on flights, accommodation and match tickets.
An automatic service charge removes some uncertainty and gives staff greater protection, but it can also create resentment if supporters see it as an unexpected addition. Clear menus, multilingual notices and explanations before payment may prove just as important as the charge itself.
The World Cup will test whether host-city businesses can balance a welcoming atmosphere with local financial customs. If automatic charges become standard during the tournament, the next question is whether they disappear once the travelling supporters have gone-or become a lasting part of the American matchday experience.