World Cup 2026: A $41 billion boost for the global economy.

The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is predicted to be not only the biggest sporting event in history but also a driver of global economic growth worth approximately $41 billion, while simultaneously ushering in a major shift in digital technology and data infrastructure.

Israeli news outlet Ynet, citing a Bank of America report, said the 2026 World Cup will for the first time feature 48 national teams.

The tournament is expected to create approximately 824,000 new jobs worldwide , with around 185,000 of those jobs coming from the United States alone.

The report estimates that approximately 6 billion people, equivalent to 75% of the world's population, will watch or interact with the tournament through television, streaming platforms, and social media, setting new records for global reach.

The global sports industry is currently valued at approximately $2.3 trillion in 2025 and could rise to $3.7 trillion by 2030.

The 2026 World Cup alone is expected to generate approximately $30.5 billion in economic value for the United States, with tourism contributing around $6.4 billion.

The tournament is also considered the most "digitally connected" World Cup ever. The final match on July 19th is expected to account for up to 7% of total global internet traffic. The estimated total data generated throughout the tournament is approximately 2 exabytes, equivalent to 45,000 years of continuous 4K video streaming, and about 45 times more than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

To coordinate the event, the organizers plan to deploy an artificial intelligence (AI)-based operating system to connect operational centers in the three host countries.

The technology, which creates "digital replicas" of stadiums, will also be used for real-time crowd management, security, and logistics.

In addition, the "Football AI Pro" technology will analyze over 2,000 player performance metrics in real time.

According to AI models and analysts, the French national football team is currently considered the top contender for the championship, while Kylian Mbappé (France) is predicted to win the Golden Boot and Lamine Yamal (Spain) is likely to become the best player of the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup will also become a large-scale testing ground for self-driving cars and robots.

Many host cities in the US have deployed robotic taxi services, while Hyundai Motor Company plans to use robots from Boston Dynamics to assist with stadium operations and logistics. Mexico also plans to deploy robotic dogs for security duties around stadiums.

According to Haim Israel, global strategist at Bank of America, the 2026 World Cup is not just about football, but also reflects new trends in digital infrastructure, AI, big data, virtual reality, and global connectivity platforms in the future.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/world-cup-2026-cu-hich-41-ty-usd-cho-kinh-te-toan-cau-post1111369.vnp