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 had estimated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could result in at least $17 billion in lost productivity globally, with the United States alone accounting for $11.7 billion.The report suggested that millions of employees planned to alter their work schedules, skip work, stream matches during office hours or even report to work exhausted or hungover as the month-long tournament unfolded.The findings were released before World Cup fever gripped fans across host nations, with the tournament now set to conclude on Sunday when defending champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in the final.
Employees plan time off, late arrivals and match streaming
The UKG survey, conducted among 8,000 employees across Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, found that 37% of employees globally intended to adjust their work schedules because of 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 will tolerate.
- 14% admitted they intended to secretly stream matches or highlights while at work.
- 22% expected to report to work tired or exhausted.
- 11% said they would work while hungover.
“When absenteeism and presenteeism hit at scale, the effect is immediate and expensive. Productivity drops, customer experience suffers, and morale takes a hit as the rest of the team is left to cover the gaps,” said Suresh Vittal, chief product Officer at UKG.
US expected to bear biggest productivity hit
Among the countries surveyed, the United States was projected to record the highest productivity loss at $11.7 billion.UKG’s country-wise estimates include:
| Country | Estimated productivity loss |
| United States | $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, the losses were expected to stem from both absenteeism and reduced productivity while employees were at work.
Managers seek flexibility too
The report suggested managers were almost as eager to follow the tournament as frontline staff.Compared with non-managers, managers were significantly more likely to:
- Plan time off during the World Cup (42% vs 24%).
- Request schedule changes in advance (50% vs 34%).
- Seek 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 organisations can respond when conditions change fast,” Vittal said.“Employers do not need to trade productivity for flexibility. They need the discipline to plan ahead, the insight to act as every shift unfolds, and the execution muscle to convert pressure into performance, just like the world’s top soccer stars.”
Office attendance already showing impact
Separate data shows the disruption was reflected in workplace attendance.According to workplace management platform Envoy, attendance at US offices fell 26% on July 7, the day after the United States lost to Belgium—a drop roughly 10 times larger than the decline seen after the Super Bowl.Envoy dubbed the phenomenon “Knockout Tuesday.”Office attendance was also 8.5% lower on the day of the match compared with the average Monday over the previous three months.Sidney LeBlanc, a data analyst at Envoy, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that many employees called in sick, while attendance often dipped the day after matches as fans stayed out late celebrating or reacting to results.Some companies have already adjusted their work arrangements to minimise 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 commuting delays.The FIFA World Cup final will be played on Sunday between Argentina and Spain. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, reached the title clash after defeating England 2-1 in the semi-finals, while Spain beat France 2-0.Messi heads into the final leading the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot after recording two assists in the semi-final.
