WILLEMSTAD — According to an investigation by Bergen Record, the FIFA World Cup generated an estimated $3.5 billion in economic value for the New York region. The inquiry examines what financial benefits the state of New Jersey received from the international sporting event.

The World Cup, one of the world’s largest sporting events, attracts millions of spectators annually and generates substantial revenue for host regions through ticket sales, hotel bookings, restaurant services, and related economic activity.

Bergen Record investigated the economic impact of the tournament across both states. While New York is reported to have received an estimated $3.5 billion in economic benefits, the amount of revenue generated for New Jersey remains unclear. The investigation suggests that the distribution of economic gains between the two states may have been unequal.

The findings raise questions about how major international sporting events distribute their economic benefits across regions and states, and how local economies benefit from such large-scale tournaments.