The FIFA World Cup may be the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet, but for employers it could also become one of the biggest workplace disruptions of the year.A survey by workforce management firm UKG estimated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could result in at least $17 billion in lost productivity globally, with $11.7 billion lost in the United States alone.Reports suggest millions of employees plan to alter their work schedules, skip work, stream matches during office hours or even report to work tired or hungry as the month-long tournament begins.The findings were released before World Cup fever hits the host nation’s fans, with the tournament now set to conclude on Sunday when defending champions Argentina face European champions Spain in the final.
Employees plan leave, late arrivals and match streaming
The UKG survey, conducted among 8,000 employees in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, found that 37% of employees globally intend to adjust their work schedules due to the tournament.More than a quarter (27%) said they were likely to miss work by arriving late, leaving early or skipping work altogether.The survey also highlighted signs of “presenteeism” – being physically present but less productive.according to the report:
- 26% of employees planned to test the limits of what their managers would tolerate.
- 14% admitted that they intended to secretly stream a match or highlights while at work.
- 22% expect to come to work tired or exhausted.
- 11% said they would work out during a hangover.
Suresh Vittal, chief product officer, UKG, said, “When absenteeism and presenteeism are rampant, the impact is immediate and costly. Productivity falls, customer experience suffers and morale takes a hit as the rest of the team is left to cover the gaps.”
America fears the biggest hit to productivity
Among the countries surveyed, the United States was estimated to record the highest productivity loss at $11.7 billion.UKG’s country-wise estimates include:
| Country | Estimated Productivity Loss |
| United States of America | $11.7 billion |
| Germany | $1.34 billion |
| united kingdom | $912 million |
| France | $749 million |
| Australia | $653 million |
| Canada | $479 million |
| Netherlands | $388 million |
| Mexico | $369 million |
According to UKG, losses were expected to be caused by both absenteeism and reduced productivity while employees were at work.
Managers also want flexibility
Reports suggested that managers were just as keen to follow the tournament as frontline staff.Compared to non-managers, managers were significantly more likely to:
- Plan a vacation during the World Cup (42% vs. 24%).
- Request schedule changes in advance (50% vs. 34%).
- Look for last-minute flexibility (45% vs. 28%).
Overall, 33% of respondents said they planned to take at least one day off during the tournament.Meanwhile, 39% said they believed their employer would not care about the World Cup, while 19% said they would consider looking for another job if their work schedule negatively affected their ability to watch the tournament.“The World Cup is a test of how well organizations can respond when circumstances change rapidly,” Vittal said.“Employers don’t need to trade productivity for flexibility. They need the discipline to plan ahead, the insight to act as every change changes, and the strength of execution to convert pressure into performance like the world’s top soccer stars.”
Impact on office attendance is already visible
Disruptions were reflected in workplace attendance, disaggregated data showed.Attendance at U.S. offices fell 26% on July 7, the day after the United States lost to Belgium, according to workplace management platform Envoy – a drop nearly 10 times larger than the decline seen after the Super Bowl.The envoy dubbed the incident “Knockout Tuesday”.Attendance at the office on the match day was also 8.5% lower compared to the average Monday of the previous three months.Sidney LeBlanc, a data analyst at Envoy, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that many staffers called in sick, while attendance was often low the day after matches as fans stayed up late celebrating or reacting to the results.Some companies have already adjusted their working arrangements to minimize disruption.Employers in host cities, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and S&P Global, have encouraged employees to work remotely on match days to avoid expected traffic congestion and commute delays.The final of the FIFA World Cup will be played between Argentina and Spain on Sunday. Argentina, captained by Lionel Messi, reached the title match by defeating England 2-1 in the semi-finals, while Spain defeated France 2-0.Messi entered the final as the front-runner for the tournament’s Golden Boot after registering two assists in the semi-finals.
