World Cup Fever vs. Workplace Rules: Survey Shows One in Seven Employees Plan to Secretly Stream Games

The 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada is set to create a costly clash between soccer fandom and workplace productivity. According to recent studies, global productivity losses will total roughly 14.5 billion euros, with the German labor market alone bearing a 1.15-billion-euro hit.

New survey data reveals how employees intend to cope—and the risks they are willing to take. Globally, 37 percent of respondents plan to adjust their working hours during the tournament. Fourteen percent openly admit they will stream matches secretly in the office. Eleven percent expect to show up hungover after late-night games.

The management suite is hardly immune. Forty-two percent of managers are booking vacation time for the World Cup period.

Younger workers embrace AI as a productivity crutch

Many employees are turning to technology to offset lost time. A survey conducted by Qlik and Censuswide found that 65 percent of U.S. workers plan to use artificial intelligence to make up for time spent watching matches. The trend is most pronounced among younger generations: roughly 70 percent of Generation Z and Millennials intend to ramp up their AI usage during the tournament.

Despite these coping strategies, only 27 percent of respondents hope for officially approved flexible hours. A full 90 percent admit they want to follow games during work time.

Night games pose special problems for German fans

For German supporters, the schedule adds an extra layer of difficulty. Two-thirds of matches will kick off after midnight local time. Secretly streaming at the office could result in dismissal. Even riskier is faking illness: calling in sick without a genuine medical condition opens the door to immediate termination.

Yet enthusiasm is rising. A study from the University of Hohenheim indicates that only 16 percent of German fans have no interest in watching any games. In 2022, that figure stood at 27 percent.

FIFA eyes record revenue while national federations face pressure

As employers absorb the productivity hit, FIFA is headed for historic income: the world governing body expects 8.911 billion U.S. dollars from the World Cup cycle. A total of 871 million dollars will be distributed as prize money to the 48 participating teams. The eventual champion will pocket 50 million dollars.

For national associations, the financial outlook is tighter. The managing director of the German Football Association (DFB) has warned that without a semifinal appearance, a positive financial result is nearly impossible. The reasons include enormous travel demands across three host countries, a complex U.S. tax situation, and the fact that some teams will cover up to 9,400 kilometers during the group stage alone.

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