How to Enjoy the World Cup – and Keep Your Boss on Side
Flexible Work Arrangements Amid Late Matches
Ninoda.com – As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, fans in England and Scotland are devising ways to watch games without disrupting their work schedules. With matches spread across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, some players from England will face early morning kick-offs at 21:00 and 22:00 BST, while Scotland’s fixtures begin as late as 02:00. To accommodate these times, many have scheduled annual leave around key knockout rounds, while others are seeking flexible working options, such as delayed start times or remote work after late-night games.
Strategies for Attending Matches
Scottish fan Cameron Rae has already secured a Monday off following the Haiti game to join a local fan zone at the town hall. The event includes a bar and DJ until 4am, making it a popular choice for enthusiasts. Meanwhile, pubs in the UK will stay open until 1:00 BST for games starting between 17:00 and 21:00, extending to 2:00 for matches beginning at 21:00 or 22:00. For those who can’t take time off, recovery days are becoming a common tactic.
“I booked the Monday off a while ago. I work in a garage and we’re open as normal, so I probably wouldn’t get away with flexible working,” says Rae.
Business analyst Krys Kujawa, another Scotland supporter, believes late-night matches like the Brazil game can be managed with minimal disruption. “Haiti is early Sunday morning, so there’s still all of Sunday to recover,” he explains. “Morocco is late Friday night, allowing for a Saturday snooze. Brazil is the tough one – it’s coffee-your-way-through-work territory.”
A National Break for the Tartan Army
Scotland is set to observe a special one-off Bank Holiday on 15 June to celebrate its team’s debut in the World Cup since 1998. NHS Scotland staff and government employees are guaranteed the day off, though local councils and private businesses have the option to participate or not. Kujawa mentions that a Bank Holiday after the Brazil match would have been ideal, as it could ease the pressure of returning to work the next morning.
Productivity Costs and Workplace Adaptations
Employers across the UK are preparing for a potential surge in “World Cup sickies” as per warnings from unions and HR experts. BrightHR estimates that at least 1.5 million workers will report absenteeism during the tournament, adding over 2.3 million extra sick days. Meanwhile, UKG research suggests the event could cost employers around £681m in lost productivity.
Birmingham-based digital agency Pull the Pin is taking proactive steps to avoid such issues. Founder Sam Hufton expanded the company’s flexible working policy, allowing staff to adjust schedules as long as they communicate their plans. “Everyone sets out a weekly plan of roughly when they’re starting and finishing each day,” he notes. “The whole team knows where everyone is.”
“As a keen football fan, I’ve reminded everyone that if they want to watch a game and start a bit later, that’s fine,” Hufton adds. “All we ask is that they’re transparent about it.”
Flexible hours have also been embraced during past tournaments, such as allowing staff to take the morning off after England’s Euro 2024 final. Hufton plans to watch all games with his children or friends, even considering combining a wedding on 11 July with an England quarter-final. “The extra couple of hours in bed will definitely sway my decision to go out rather than stay in,” says social media manager Sharna Beveridge, who isn’t a major football fan but is joining the enthusiasm at work.
Expert Advice for Managing Absences
David D’Souza of the CIPD advises employers to clarify expectations and encourage staff to plan time off when matches might impact performance. John Palmer, senior advisor at Acas, adds that… (the original text ends here, but the key point is that experts recommend proactive measures to balance work and World Cup enjoyment.)
