The global soccer boom and the opportunity for America's small businesses
Discover how global football tourism is helping U.S. SMBs attract international visitors, boost sales, and deliver seamless payment experiences.
Overview: As millions of international visitors travel across the United States during the summer of global football, the opportunity extends well beyond the stadiums. Discover how SMBs can attract new customers, deliver seamless payment experiences, and convert increased tourism into long-term growth.
Every major sporting event attracts visitors, but few have the scale or geographic reach of the global soccer tournament taking place in North America in 2026. With millions of fans traveling across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the event has become one of the largest tourism moments in the continent's history. Projections suggest more than 6.5 million attendees will take part in the tournament, while visitor spending across North America could exceed $8 billion.
For the United States in particular, the opportunity extends far beyond the host stadiums. International visitors have been using matchdays as part of broader travel itineraries, exploring cities, regional attractions, national parks, and local communities before and after games. For many travelers, this was their first experience of the country, creating opportunities for destinations and businesses that may never have appeared on a traditional tourism map.
The result is a rare moment where global attention shifts from iconic landmarks alone to the diverse experiences that define the American travel landscape. From major metropolitan areas to smaller communities, businesses across the country are having a chance to welcome new visitors and turn a sporting spectacle into a lasting economic opportunity.
Why international visitors matter to local businesses
The economic opportunity created by a global sporting event extends far beyond ticket sales and tourism hotspots. International visitors typically spend across a wide range of categories throughout their trips, from accommodations and dining to transportation, shopping, and entertainment. As fans have been traveling between destinations and extend their stays, that spending reaches businesses of all sizes across the country.
Recent data from Bank of America shows that consumer spending in tournament host cities increased 6.3% year over year, with spending by non-local visitors rising 16.7%. Hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, transportation providers, and retailers have all benefited from the influx of travelers.
For small and medium-sized businesses, international visitors can be especially valuable because they often arrive ready to explore beyond the main attractions. Whether it's a family-owned restaurant, a local retailer, a guided tour operator, or a specialty food shop, these businesses offer the authentic experiences many travelers seek. Every transaction becomes an opportunity not only to generate revenue but also to create a memorable impression that encourages visitors to return, recommend the destination, or engage with the brand long after their trip has ended.
The SMB opportunity beyond host cities
While host cities will naturally draw the largest crowds, the economic impact of the 2026 soccer tournament is unlikely to be confined to stadium gates or city limits. As international visitors travel between matches and extend their trips to enjoy summer across North America, spending will spread to destinations far beyond the tournament's official footprint.
Many travelers are building broader vacations around the event, combining matches with visits to national parks, coastal destinations, cultural attractions, and smaller communities. This creates opportunities for businesses that may have no direct connection to soccer but still benefit from increased tourism. Independent hotels, restaurants, retailers, tour operators, transportation providers, and entertainment venues all stand to capture a share of visitor spending.
Small businesses are already aware of the potential. A recent survey by Angus Reid found that 56% of small businesses expect increased foot traffic during the tournament, and 41% anticipate revenue increases of 20% or more. For SMBs outside the host cities, success may come from positioning themselves as part of a broader travel experience, helping visitors discover the local culture, products, and hospitality that make each destination unique.
In many ways, the biggest opportunity may not go to the businesses closest to the action, but to those able to turn a once-in-a-generation tourism moment into lasting customer relationships.
Payments are part of the visitor experience
For businesses hoping to benefit from the surge in international tourism, attracting customers is only part of the challenge. Delivering a smooth payment experience can be just as important as attracting customers. Travelers arrive with different payment habits, preferred card types, digital wallets, and expectations for checkout convenience. When those preferences are supported, transactions become faster and more seamless, helping businesses keep pace during periods of increased demand.
This is particularly important during large-scale tourism events, where visitors are spending across multiple categories in a short period of time. Recent spending data shows that hotels, restaurants, retailers, transportation providers, and entertainment venues are all seeing increased activity from non-local visitors. Every interaction, whether it's purchasing a meal, booking an excursion, or buying a souvenir, represents a moment where payments can either support or disrupt the customer experience.
For SMBs, offering flexible payment options can reduce checkout friction and accommodate a broader range of international customers. As millions of visitors explore destinations across the United States, businesses that make it easy to pay may be better positioned to convert increased foot traffic into sales, repeat visits, and positive word of mouth.
Turning global attention into business growth
A surge in international visitors creates new opportunities for SMBs, but capturing that demand requires more than simply opening the doors. Businesses need to be ready to serve customers with diverse payment preferences, manage higher transaction volumes, and deliver a seamless checkout experience, regardless of where a visitor comes from.
That's where the right payments partner can make a difference. Paysafe helps SMBs accept payments across in-person, mobile, and online channels with a single solution, supporting major card networks, contactless payments, and digital wallets. The company's payment solutions are designed to simplify transactions, reduce checkout friction, and help businesses deliver a positive customer experience from the first purchase to the last.
As millions travel across the US during the summer of global soccer, businesses that offer great experiences and flexible payments will better maximize opportunities. SMBs enabling fast, secure, convenient payments may convert foot traffic into growth by serving local and international visitors.
Learn how Paysafe's SMB payment solutions can help your business accept payments seamlessly, online and in person, and prepare for periods of increased customer demand.
FAQs
How can SMBs prepare for an increase in international visitors?
Businesses can prepare by ensuring they offer a seamless customer experience, including convenient payment options, efficient checkout, and the ability to handle higher transaction volumes.
Why do payment preferences matter for international travelers?
Visitors may arrive with different payment habits and preferred payment methods. Offering flexible options can reduce friction at checkout and improve the overall customer experience.
How can Paysafe help SMBs capture more visitor spending?
Paysafe's payment solutions enable SMBs to accept payments in-store, online, and on the go, and support major cards, contactless payments, and digital wallets to meet a wide range of customer preferences.
