Good morning. So far, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a win: record-breaking TV audiences, sellout crowds, exuberant tourists, and solid performances from the three host countries despite them all losing in the round of 16. The games are a boon for the players, too, with FIFA set to distribute a record $871 million to the 48 competing teams. The question is what it will do for the economy of the host cities, for sponsors, and for a sport that’s surpassed baseball in popularity in the U.S. but remains far behind basketball and football. Global events, however fleeting, can create a turning point for a destination, sport or product. The 1988 Seoul Olympics famously showcased Korea as a fast-growing Asian Tiger economy while development for the Barcelona Games four years later is credited with tra