FIFA’s official payment technology partner has released data showing that consumer spending by value at Qatar 2022 was close to exceeding total spending for the 2018 edition in Russia, and had already done so for the 2014 edition.  

The average in-stadium transaction amount for all group games was $23 (£18/€21), while 47 per cent of all spend was on merchandise, making it the top spend category.

The highest volume of in-stadium payment transactions came during the match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico on November 30, which Mexico won 2-1, before the nation was subsequently eliminated from the tournament on goal difference from Poland.

Meanwhile the Lusail Stadium in Lusail led all stadiums for the total number of payment transactions during the group stage.

"For Qatar 2022, Visa enabled more payment terminals in official venues than ever before and are trialling some innovative new ways to pay around Qatar, so paying for things can be less cumbersome and fans can stay in the moment and focus on the beautiful game," said Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, senior vice-president and group country manager of the Gulf Cooperation Council of Visa.

Meanwhile a report by tournament organisers the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said that on the first 17 days of the World Cup there were 765,859 international visitors, short of the country’s expectations for 1.2 million visitors to enter the nation for the event.   

The report registered 1.33 million match ticketholders and 3.09 million tickets sold across all eight stadiums due to host matches.

It also stated that cumulative stadium attendance at the first 52 matches was 2.65 million.

Officials say they are hopeful that a new wave of visitors will arrive for the quarter-finals, due to begin tomorrow with Croatia against Brazil, followed later in the day by the Netherlands facing Argentina.