World Cup drives surge in bar and food delivery spending

An analysis by CaixaBank Research reveals that the World Cup significantly boosted consumer spending in the hospitality sector. During matches involving the Spanish national team, in-person spending at bars increased by 36.3% compared to an equivalent day from the previous year.

The impact was most pronounced among younger consumers, whose spending in bars surged by 70.6% during match hours. Additionally, digital food delivery orders saw a 43.3% increase, reflecting a growing trend of fans choosing to watch matches from home via online platforms.

The study, based on anonymized card transaction data, highlights a dual reality: while major sporting events continue to drive physical foot traffic to establishments, digital commerce has gained substantial ground across all age groups.