Despite hosting only 13 of the tournament's 104 matches, Mexico is expected to reap billions of dollars in economic benefits from this year's World Cup.
Mexico City, which will host five matches, including last week's opening game between Mexico and South Africa, is expected to welcome about 400,000 visitors and generate an economic impact of nearly $1.6 billion, according to independent consultant Jorge Arturo Anglard Martínez Cervantes, who spoke with Forbes.
The tournament's economic impact is already being felt in the Mexican capital. According to data from the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco), Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa generated more than 1.2 billion pesos, or roughly $70 million, in economic activity.
The organization attributed the spending to restaurants, hotels, bars, transportation services, retail businesses, and even souvenir sales, according to a statement released after the opening match.
"At the national level, the tournament could generate as much as 65 billion pesos (nearly $3.8 billion) for the sector, provided the opportunities also reach micro, small and medium-sized businesses and are not concentrated among large chains," said Octavio de la Torre, president of Concanaco Servytur.
In Guadalajara, officials estimate the city will welcome about 250,000 visitors and generate nearly $1 billion in economic activity. Monterrey, Mexico's third World Cup host city, is projected to receive 150,000 visitors and see an economic impact of roughly $600 million.
According to Martínez Cervantes, the value added by the World Cup would represent between 0.11% and 0.14% of Mexico's gross domestic product.
As noted by Mexican outlet Expansión, Mexico's economy grew 6.5% in 1970, the first time the country hosted the World Cup. In 1986, when Mexico hosted the tournament for a second time amid an economic crisis, the economy contracted 3.9%. According to the Bank of Mexico, the country's economy is expected to expand by just 1.1% this year.
The World Cup's economic benefits are expected to be temporary rather than long-lasting. According to Goldman Sachs data cited by CBS News, the tournament's long-term impact on a host country's economic growth is "effectively zero."
Host nations capture only part of the spending generated by the event, the report said, as much of the economic activity takes place outside the countries staging the tournament.
"While more beer will be bought and more football-related merchandise will be purchased as a consequence of the World Cup, most of that beer and most of the merchandise will not be purchased in the host countries," Goldman analysts said.
