Workers Plan Time Off for 2026 World Cup Matches

A UKG survey of 8,000 workers in eight countries found that 33 percent plan to take at least one day off for the 2026 World Cup and 25 percent expect to miss part of a workday. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they will adjust their work schedules around matches, while 25 percent said they will push the limits of what managers will allow.

James Lewis, a customer-service worker in the United Kingdom, said he will take the first two weeks of the tournament off to watch overnight matches and has also requested the day of the final. Lauren Thomas, an economist at payroll platform Deel, said higher rates of sick leave observed in Germany during the 2024 UEFA European Championship may reflect both genuine illness from large gatherings and workers using available time off.

U.S. host cities are considering remote-work options and on-site meals to reduce commute disruptions on game days. Suresh Vittal, chief product officer at UKG, noted that managers themselves reported higher willingness than employees to adjust schedules around matches.

Heineken has promoted a volunteer-time-off program that allows employees to sign up for shifts during match hours while watching games at volunteer sites.