The report says Visa card-present spending in the two cities rose most sharply on selected fixture days, compared with average daily spending during the same period a year earlier. Toronto recorded the larger reported increase: spending was up as much as 24.6% on 20 June, when Germany played Côte d’Ivoire.
In Vancouver, the strongest reported rise came on 13 June, when Australia faced Türkiye. Spending was up 12.7% for that fixture, while Canada’s group-stage match against Qatar was associated with a reported 4.9% increase.
Visa described the activity as a temporary, concentrated “pop-up economy”. The phrase captures the potential of a major tournament to funnel visitors into host cities, but also hints at the challenge: a busy matchday does not automatically mean sustained demand for local businesses.
The figures should be read as a snapshot, not a complete account of the tournament’s economic impact. The report says the analysis covered Visa card-present transactions, including stadium purchases, and therefore did not capture all consumer spending. It also cannot, by itself, show how much additional activity went to neighbourhood businesses or whether those customers returned.
Wielhouwer was also quoted as describing “real economic opportunity” for Canadian communities. Turning that opportunity into a lasting legacy will depend on more than packed fixtures: local businesses need ways to draw visitors in before kick-off and keep them coming back afterwards.
The next test for host cities is whether the matchday buzz can translate into longer-term trade. For future major events, the key storyline will be how effectively organisers and local communities connect the stadium experience with the wider city.