Mastercard has highlighted the growing economic potential of sports tourism among Muslim travellers, saying the market could reach $21bn by 2030 if destinations and event organisers make their services more visible and easier to trust.
The company, working with CrescentRating on its new Proof Wins report, said spending on Muslim sports event travel is expected to rise from about $11bn in 2025 to $17bn in 2030. It said clearer information on halal food, prayer facilities, transport and secure payments could lift that figure further.
The report said interest in sports travel is high, but booking depends heavily on practical details being easy to find before a trip begins.
It found that 75% of Muslim travellers have taken part in sports tourism on domestic or overseas trips, but only 6% of their international travel includes attendance at a sports event. Mastercard said that gap points to a large untapped market for destinations that can turn interest into bookings.
According to the research, price and value are the biggest factors shaping decisions, cited by 61% of respondents. Access to halal food and prayer facilities was next at 48%, followed by safety and trust in local management at 45%.
The report also said 82% of sports travellers see accommodation near the venue as very important. Proximity to halal food outlets ranked first when choosing a place to stay, at 53%, ahead of walkability to the venue at 47%, access to prayer facilities at 46% and transport options at 44%.
Digital discovery is central to the journey, the report said. Some 72% of Muslim travellers discover sports events through social media, often inspiring group trips with friends and family. When it comes to buying tickets, official event websites remain the most trusted channel.
That trust, the report said, increases when official ticket links, venue access information, transport plans and reliable digital payment methods are easy to find. It said transparent pricing and smooth payment experiences reduce the likelihood of travellers abandoning a booking.
The report also points to a young, connected audience behind the growth. It said 186 million Muslim international travellers were recorded in 2025, and this is expected to rise to 245 million by 2030. Around 70% of the global Muslim population is under 40, with a median age of 25, creating a market that is both mobile and digitally engaged.
Payment preferences show how important convenience has become. The report said 44% of travellers prefer e-wallets, 40% use credit and debit cards, 33% still use cash, 22% use QR code payments and 11% use contactless methods.
In a statement, Aisha Islam, senior vice president at Mastercard Southeast Asia Customer Solutions Center, said sports tourism is entering a new phase of global growth in which experience, community and cultural connection matter as much as the event itself.
She said Mastercard’s global sports partnerships, including the UEFA Champions League, the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the Australian Open, showed how major sporting moments can bring together fans, destinations and businesses at scale.
She added that Muslim travellers are one of the fastest-growing segments in global travel, and that destinations can unlock major participation and spending when they offer clarity and confidence on payment security, halal food and prayer access.
The findings suggest that sports tourism is becoming a bigger part of the wider Muslim travel market, but the report says the challenge is not demand alone. It is making practical, faith-aware information visible early enough to turn curiosity into confirmed trips.
For destinations and organisers, that means improving the full journey, from discovery on social media to ticket purchase, transport planning, accommodation and on-site spending. Mastercard said those changes could help convert a large share of interested travellers into actual visitors, especially as the Muslim travel market continues to expand.
