Online fast food, grocery and restaurant orders increased 37% during the tournament
Spending on telecommunication services increased 12% on match days
Visa, the Official Payment Technology Partner of FIFA World Cup 2026™, today released data highlighting spending patterns in Saudi Arabia during the tournament.
Analysis by Visa Consulting & Analytics shows increased spending on Visa consumer cards across food delivery, telecommunication services and sports merchandise categories throughout the Group Stage and Round of 32 matches (11 June–4 July).
Food and grocery delivery spending increased during the tournament
Across the Group Stage and Round of 32 matches (11 June–4 July), online orders across fast food, grocery and restaurants increased 37% year-over-year. Demand was particularly strong during the latter stages of the tournament, with online grocery purchases increasing 33% during the final Group Stage and Round of 32 matches (25 June–5 July) compared to preceding days. Online restaurant orders were also 25% higher during tournament weekends (18 June–4 July) compared to weekends prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ kickoff.
Saudi Arabia matches drove higher spending on fast food delivery
Fast food orders between 5pm and 8pm increased 43% during Saudi Arabia’s match against Spain on 21 June compared to an average Sunday in previous weeks. During Saudi Arabia’s final Group Stage match against Cape Verde on 26 June, fast food orders between 11pm and 2am increased 19% compared to an average Friday in previous weeks.
Spending on telecommunication services and sports merchandise increased during the tournament
Beyond food delivery, spending on telecommunication services increased 12% year-over-year on match days throughout June. Spending on sports merchandise also increased 10% during the Group Stage (10–30 June) compared to the days preceding the tournament.
“Global sporting moments like the FIFA World Cup 2026™ create a powerful ripple effect beyond the pitch, bringing people together while driving meaningful activity for local businesses and communities. As a proud partner of FIFA World Cup 2026™, we’re excited to see how fans engage during these moments, and the role of digital payments in supporting economic impact and connected commerce,” said Nicolas Khoury, SVP, Head of Visa Consulting & Analytics, CEMEA.
Methodology
This analysis provides insights into retail spending activity during the Group Stage and Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, spanning 11 June to 4 July 2026. Findings are based on aggregated Visa payment transactions and are used to assess changes in consumer spending behavior during key tournament stages, match days, and weekends. This comprehensive analysis identifies shifts across spending categories, offering valuable insights into consumer spending behaviors and emerging trends, helping retailers and businesses better understand how major sporting events influence consumer spending pattern.