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Analyzing the Impact of the 2010 Soccer World Cup on South Africa: A Synthetic Control Method

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  • Busani Moyo
  • Tendai Gwatidzo

Abstract

The announcement of South Africa as the 2010 host of the FIFA World Cup in 2004 was a triumphant moment for the country and the African continent. It marked the first time in FIFA's history that the World Cup would be hosted by an African country. We use synthetic control method to create counterfactual South Africa without the World Cup and compare it with actual South Africa to analyse the impact of this tournament. Our results show that although hosting the world cup games in 2010 had no positive effects on GDP it significantly increased tourism inflows. We however find evidence that GDP did increase during the period after announcing that South Africa would host the tournament to a year before the tournament. This suggests that the analysis of these events should focus on both the year the event is held as well as the period immediately after host announcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Busani Moyo & Tendai Gwatidzo, 2026. "Analyzing the Impact of the 2010 Soccer World Cup on South Africa: A Synthetic Control Method," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 27(2), pages 233-278, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:27:y:2026:i:2:p:233-278
    DOI: 10.1177/15270025251409118
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    JEL classification:

    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production

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