Fans are estimated to have spent 39% more at stadiums in Qatar than at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, according to data from Visa, the event’s official payment provider.
The data includes spending with Visa cards, the only ones accepted in the stadiums. Visitors from Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and the United Kingdom were the top spenders, according to Visa.
In the final between Argentina and France, on December 18, the highest spending of all the matches was recorded. Tournament organizers in Qatar hoped the FIFA World Cup would provide a $17 billion to $220 billion boost to the economy and serve as a springboard for further development of sectors such as tourism and entertainment.
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However, Reuters reported that halfway through the event, the total number of international visitors would likely fall short of projections of 1.2 million during the month-long tournament.
The event has already proven a financial success for soccer’s governing body FIFA, which said it generated $7.5 billion in its four-year cycle. That’s $1 billion more than anticipated.
Source: Gestion
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