The FIFA 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is expected to draw millions of visitors and generate a surge in consumer activity.
Notably, major global sporting events of this scale often create openings for investors, particularly in sectors linked to travel, payments, hospitality, and consumer spending.
With this in mind, Finbold consulted ChatGPT to identify two companies that appear well positioned to benefit from the economic momentum surrounding the tournament.
Visa (NYSE: V)
According to ChatGPT, Visa (NYSE: V) stands out due to its direct exposure to rising payments volume. Global events typically push consumer spending higher, and the World Cup’s tri-nation format is likely to amplify cross-border transactions.
International fans traveling throughout North America will rely heavily on card-based payments for accommodation, transport, dining, and merchandise.
The model noted that Visa’s long-standing role in handling payments at previous tournaments points to its readiness to capture an uptick in transaction activity.
Because cross-border payments carry some of the company’s highest margins, even modest increases in spending during the event could produce a measurable earnings boost.
At the close of the last session, Visa stock was valued at $326, up nearly 4% year-to-date.
YETI Holdings (NYSE: YETI)
The second stock identified is YETI Holdings (NYSE: YETI). Although it is not a tournament sponsor, YETI is positioned to benefit from a different dynamic: elevated consumer behavior linked to travel, gatherings, and outdoor events.
ChatGPT highlighted that a World Cup spread across 16 host cities is likely to stimulate demand for travel gear, coolers, drinkware, and lifestyle accessories, core elements of YETI’s product line.
The tournament is expected to generate widespread viewing events and increased mobility among fans, conditions that typically align with stronger discretionary spending.
YETI’s brand strength and broad North American presence place it in a favorable position to absorb additional demand tied to World Cup-related activity.
By press time, YETI stock was trading at $43.44, having rallied more than 12% year to date.
In summary, ChatGPT noted that together, these two companies offer distinct yet complementary exposure to the economic forces the 2026 World Cup is expected to unleash.
Featured image from Shutterstock
Source: https://finbold.com/2-stocks-to-buy-ahead-of-the-2026-world-cup-according-to-ai/