Club World Cup Provides Orlando with an Economic Boost
By Space Coast Daily // July 8, 2025
Orlando is one of 11 cities across the United States hosting the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup.
The city has a modern infrastructure and vibrant sports culture, so the decision to include it as part of the hosting party was a no-brainer.
Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium have hosted several Club World Cup games, proving that it can go shoulder-to-shoulder with other US cities.
Here’s how the Club World Cup is turning into an unforgettable tournament in Orlando off the pitch.
Auckland Charms as Football Comes to a Beautiful City
Orlando’s involvement in the Club World Cup is a massive boost for a city that has been looking for ways to diversify its economy.
The Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium is hosting six games, including the group stage clash between Portuguese powerhouse Benfica and New Zealand’s Auckland City.
Auckland were mauled 6-0 by Benfica, but their participation in the tournament was justification for the much-maligned new format.
The semi-professional New Zealand team comprises players who have other jobs. That instantly made them the hot topic of the tournament and a huge draw within the betting community.
They went into the tournament as underdogs, but that didn’t stop fans in New Zealand from wagers on the sportsbooks featured on the Bettingtop10 comparison platform.
While Auckland were unable to upset the odds in their first two games, a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors in their final match delivered a winning return to punters who wagered on them to take a point.
A Boost for Local Businesses
The long-term benefits of Orlando’s involvement in the tournament have not been lost on local officials such as Commissioner Shan Rose, who has waxed lyrical about the impact on the city.
She said the exact figure that reflects the economic impact of the tournament will be announced later, but the government is expecting it to generate millions of dollars.
Aside from the short-term bump in hotel occupancy and foot traffic, there are whispers of Orlando potentially becoming a future go-to location for huge sporting events.
The Club World Cup has been a game-changer for local businesses in Orlando. In neighbourhoods such Parramore, which is close to the Camping World Stadium, have received more customers, revenue and exposure than ever before.
The District Gastrobar has benefited from an uptick in visitors, while Ivanhoe Park Lager House, made the rare decision to open its second location early on a Monday to capitalise on the influx of fans.
Orlando gets its Moment in the Spotlight
The 2025 edition of the FIFA World Cup is the first time in the history of the tournament where 32 teams from across the globe have participated.
Eight groups of four teams each played round-robin matches in the opening phase, with the top two from each section progressing into the knockout stage.
The tournament had a rocky start. Attendance numbers were at an all-time low as the early stages struggled to convince fans that it was worth watching. But it ultimately came alive as the tournament progressed, especially during the knockout phase.
The final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13, where the winners will walk away with the holy grail and a sizeable cut of the mouth-watering $1 billion prize fund.
With Orlando chosen to host six games, the city has had the opportunity a chance to showcase itself as a modern destination ready to open its doors to the rest of the world.
Fans visited from around the world have been offered a real taste of what it’s like to watch football Stateside, while helping the locals appreciate the sport even more.
