Program Overview

Geobranding Center

Global knowledge center dedicated to the marketing of countries, destinations, places of origin, attractions, venues and locations worldwide

The GeoBranding center is a global knowledge center dedicated to the marketing of countries, destinations, places of origin, attractions, venues and locations worldwide. A series of research initiatives explore the impact, value and outcomes of GeoBranding campaigns.

The GeoBranding center explores the world of marketing through the lens of individual countries and cultures. Through the exploration of topics such as economic development and its impact on tourism; the branding of places of origin as it relates to the promotion of individual products, global events that draw diverse crowds from around the world, and the impacts and ramifications of travel restrictions, trends and cultural shifts, the GeoBranding center serves to celebrate and bring awareness to efforts of marketing, tourism, trade and development around the world.

Research: Survey & Reports

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Curated Facts & Stats

We almost made it. We almost hosted a World Cup without an awkward ending. But America couldn’t quite bring it across the finish line.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

For years, there were so many concerns around this World Cup. Would it be safe? Would the locals care? Would it be a waste of money? And while those critics were proved right at times, the 2026 edition can still be considered a resounding success.

Source: CNN

The historic 48-team World Cup ended with Spain defeating Argentina in the biggest, most lucrative tournament on record. Yet its ultimate legacy may be defined by a political scandal that shattered FIFA’s claim to neutrality.

Source: CNN

This summer’s tournament was the biggest, but not necessarily the best.

Source: Sports Illustrated

The World Cup also highlighted the importance of infrastructure. Cities invested heavily in transportation, stadium upgrades and fan experiences to accommodate visitors from around the globe.

Source: Forbes

The financial benefits from the World Cup soccer tournament are likely to be split unevenly among cities, hotels, restaurants and other tourism-dependent businesses.

Source: CNBC

44% of U.S. consumers plan to engage with World Cup matches or related events, with 30% of consumers planning to follow the games primarily through TV and streaming. The combination of increased advertising inventory, favorable time zones for European and American viewers, rising sponsorship demand and improved streaming monetization could result in a more robust revenue opportunity across a broad set of public equities

Source: Morgan Stanley

Travel bans, visa denials, safety fears, and record-high ticket prices are suppressing World Cup attendance—and threatening both FIFA’s promised $40 billion windfall and a U.S. tourism industry that was already struggling before the opening whistle.

Source: CFR

World Cup attendances are on track for record highs despite daunting ticket prices and Trump administration travel restrictions. Experts say it is less a reflection of America's fondness for soccer, and more a measure of its love of spectacle. Through 44 matches, total attendance topped 2.85 million, with the average stadium about 99.6% full.

Source: Reuters

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has only just started, but the tournament is already gaining traction among the U.S. public. Based on data from YouGov SportsIndex, both Buzz and Word of Mouth (WOM) Exposure have risen steadily in the first five days of the 39-day event.

Source: You Gov
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Program Themes

  • Business Intelligence
  • Segmentation
  • Global Trends
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Middle East
  • India
  • Emerging Markets
  • Region Economic Statistics

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