Australians spend more than $7 billion during FIFA World Cup as pubs and takeaway shops cash in

Australian consumers have spent more than $7 billion during the 2026 FIFA World Cup period so far, according to ANZ Bank data, with early analysis showing spending uplifts across takeaway food, hospitality venues and sporting apparel as fans rally around the tournament.

The figures, drawn from ANZ customer transaction data, show takeaway food spending up 6.75 per cent, cafes and restaurants up 5.5 per cent, bars and hotels up 5.2 per cent, and sporting apparel up 9.3 per cent compared to the equivalent prior-year period.

While the gains point to a clear World Cup-driven tailwind for consumer-facing businesses, they are somewhat softer than the spending surge recorded during the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup in Qatar.

ANZ data from that tournament showed customer spending rose 8.2 per cent year-on-year to more than $11 billion across the full event, with steeper category increases including takeaway food up 9.4 per cent, bars and hotels up 9 per cent, and takeaway alcohol up 14.6 per cent.

The 2026 figures represent an early snapshot with the tournament still in progress, making a direct comparison with the full 2022 dataset incomplete.

"Whether Australians are gathering with friends at home, heading to their local pub to watch a match, or showing support through purchasing sporting merchandise, we're seeing spending patterns that seem to reflect the excitement and social connection major sporting events create,” says Joanna Gurry, ANZ's managing director of data and analytics.

The spending patterns are playing out on the ground at venues across the country, says ANZ.

Heath Agland, manager of The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill at Fountain Gate in Melbourne, says the venue was sold out for the Socceroos' final group-stage match and he expects continued patronage as the tournament progresses through its knockout rounds despite Australia's elimination from the competition.

“The FIFA World Cup has created a real buzz at our venue, delivering a strong uplift in trade as fans come together to support teams from across the globe," says Agland.

"We were completely booked out for the Socceroos’ last match at 4am, which speaks volumes about the passion Australians have for their team."

The 9.3 per cent lift in sporting apparel spending marks the strongest category increase in the early data, suggesting fans are backing their enthusiasm with merchandise purchases alongside food and drink spending.

However, growth in the sporting apparel category this year compares with an 11.2 per cent increase recorded during the 2022 World Cup.