LOS ANGELES, CA (JULY 20, 2026) — The Central City Association (CCA), its members, and other Downtown business and civic leaders celebrated the economic and cultural impact that the 2026 FIFA World Cup had within Downtown Los Angeles. After significant investments in public safety, cleanliness, and beautification, activations around the 2026 FIFA World Cup attributed to revenue boosts for local small businesses and increased community engagement among Angelenos and visitors alike.
"The World Cup validated what we've long known that when Downtown is clean, safe, and activated, all of Los Angeles benefits," said Nella McOsker, President and CEO of the Central City Association. "Over the last 39 days, we saw small businesses packed day after day, hotels welcoming visitors who arrived skeptical and left as friends, and thousands of Angelenos and international guests using some of the U.S.’s best public transportation to get where they needed to be. That energy should be our baseline, and with L.A. hosting major events for years to come, the question now is whether we build on this momentum or let it fade."
"Metro proved to millions of World Cup fans they could start their fan experience on Metro and get to games and watch parties without the headaches of traffic or parking, and via safe, clean and welcoming stations and public spaces," said Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO. “World Cup fans wholeheartedly embraced transit-first options to the matches and other fan celebrations, which is consistent with the overall ridership growth we are seeing from leisure travelers making their way to concerts, museums and other activities. Metro has proven we make it easy for people to come and enjoy all Downtown has to offer, and we invite those who enjoyed the fan zones and other celebrations to continue coming back to explore the many neighborhoods, restaurants and other attractions that make Downtown Los Angeles so vibrant.”
Tourism is the second largest contributor to L.A.’s economy, which depends on global visitors who support more than 530,000 jobs, $43 billion in local business sales, and $300 million in City General Fund revenues annually.
“At a time when international perceptions of traveling to the United States have faced real challenges, the past month has showcased the very best of Los Angeles,” said Adam Burke, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “Visitors experienced our hospitality firsthand, and billions more saw a welcoming, vibrant city on the global stage. We're confident it will inspire more travelers to choose Los Angeles."
"We've seen firsthand how the World Cup transformed the way guests experienced Downtown. Many visitors arrived with questions shaped by headlines, but they left talking about the energy of our neighborhood and the warmth of Angelenos,” said Javier Cano, Area General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. “Events like the World Cup don’t just fill hotel rooms, they help renew confidence in Downtown."
“The Bloc was proud to be an anchor on 7th Street, bringing our community together through a series of watch parties that welcomed thousands of Angelenos and visitors from around the world,” said Dan Cote, General Manager of The Bloc. “Our office tenants, retailers, local artists, and community partners created an unforgettable atmosphere that showed people from more than 20 international cities what makes Downtown Los Angeles so special.”
Downtown Los Angeles accounts for less than 1% of the City’s land area, generates roughly 30% of the City’s business, parking, and transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenues, houses nearly 90,000 residents, and supports a daytime population of workers and visitors that swells to 400,000 people. Downtown’s outsized economic impact affects public budgets and the city services that all Angelenos depend on, which is why support for its local businesses is so critical for improved city services.
“What a difference a year makes. Last June, curfews kept people home, fear kept visitors away, and we had our worst month since opening,” said Cristina Ward, owner of Audio Graph Beer Co. “The World Cup brought people back Downtown – it got people celebrating with people from down the street or across the globe. Business has been booming, and some nights we couldn't fit everyone in. People want to be in Downtown, and we're committed to being here and believe in Downtown LA's future."
"The World Cup proved Downtown needs foot traffic. Every time there was a match — especially when Mexico played — our restaurant was full," said Lucy Thompson Ramirez, Co-Owner of Pez Cantina. “Major events like the World Cup create customers, strengthen our community, and remind us of what's possible when Downtown is vibrant and active. We'd love to see that kind of energy year-round."
Nine months ago, CCA launched Revive DTLA: An Urgent Recovery Plan for the Heart of Los Angeles — a practical, immediate, and achievable action plan built on a simple premise: when we get the basics right, all of Los Angeles benefits. The pandemic, homelessness, ongoing immigration raids, and other crises have hit DTLA harder than other communities, and given its outsized civic, cultural, historic, and economic role, investing in DTLA is critical to Los Angeles’ global cultural significance and economic growth.