The 2026 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 tournament could result in at least $17 billion in lost productivity globally, with the United States alone accounting for $11.7 billion, according to Business Today.
Key Employee Behaviour Findings
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:
- 26% 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, as quoted by Business Today.
Country-by-Country Productivity Loss Estimates
The US is projected to bear the biggest productivity hit. UKG's estimates per country are:
| 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.
Managerial Impact and Flexibility
Managers themselves are almost as eager to follow the tournament as frontline staff, the survey found. 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."
Real-World Office Attendance Impact
Separate data from workplace management platform Envoy showed the disruption reflected in workplace attendance. According to 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.
The tournament is set to conclude on Sunday when defending champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in the final.
For executives and investors, the UKG survey underscores a clear financial risk: workplace disruption from major events can translate into billions in lost productivity. Companies that proactively offer flexibility—schedule adjustments, remote work, or watch parties—may mitigate the drain from presenteeism and absenteeism while maintaining employee morale.
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