World Cup $$ – Americans Spent $$$$
A quick recap of the money side of the 2018 World Cup.
Even without the US National team at the games, visitors from the USA spent the most among foreign travelers at this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Americans were quick to pull out their wallets according to Visa’s payment data which looks at in-stadium spending from the opening match on June 14 through the semi-finals.
In total, Americans spent $188 million rubles, or $3 million. And, yes, we spent nearly twice what the average Russian spent at the stands.
Russian fans on average spent $18.00 on in-stadium purchases while international guests attending the World Cup spent $31.00.
Fun Fact: The opening match on June 14 — where fans from 123 countries filled the stadium — saw the highest number of sales of memorabilia.
The Wave of the Future:
Cashless from Kick-off to the Final Match
For the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, Visa was the exclusive payment service in all stadiums where payment cards are accepted. And, they have collected all their data.
In-stadium, fans paid with contactless Visa credit and debit cards and mobile payment services at the more than 3,500 point-of-sale terminals and 1,000 mobile concessionaires that have been equipped with the latest in payment innovation.
50% of the purchases were completed with contactless technology
Visa found that 50 percent of purchases in venues were completed with contactless technology.
Throughout the tournament, Visa enabled contactless payments for in-stadium purchases so that fans can spend less time in line and more time focused on the pitch.
At the World Cup — Where Was the $$ Spent?
The five stadiums where fans spent the most on their Visa cards:
- Luzhniki (Moscow): 533 million rubles ($8.6 million)
- Saint Petersburg: 208 million rubles ($3.3 million)
- Samara: 125 million rubles ($2 million)
- Sochi: 117 million rubles ($1.9 million)
- Spartak (Moscow): 114 million rubles ($1.8 million)
