Small Businesses Anticipate FIFA World Cup Boost but Readiness…

Event summary

64% of small businesses in Toronto and Vancouver expect a positive impact from the FIFA World Cup™, with 56% anticipating increased foot traffic.
41% of businesses forecast revenue gains of at least 20% during the tournament.
Only 31% of solo operators feel prepared to capitalize on the event, compared to 69% of businesses with 10+ employees.
37% of businesses have already started marketing efforts, while 23% plan to begin in April.

The big picture

The FIFA World Cup™ presents a unique opportunity for small businesses in host cities to tap into a surge in global tourism, with over a million visitors expected. However, the ability to capitalize on this demand is unevenly distributed, highlighting structural disparities in resources and operational capacity. Businesses that invest strategically in branding, customer experience, and staffing will likely outperform those constrained by budget or time.

What we're watching

Operational Readiness: How the preparedness gap between solo operators and larger businesses will affect revenue capture during the event.
Marketing Timing: Whether early marketing efforts (37%) will outperform last-minute campaigns in driving customer engagement.
Revenue Conversion: The pace at which increased foot traffic translates into sustained revenue growth for small businesses.