England’s soccer team will play a crucial World Cup Round of 16 match against Mexico. The game starts at 1 a.m. U.K. time on Monday. Fans staying awake to watch may only sleep after 3 a.m., or later if the match extends into extra time or penalties.
The British government has allowed pubs to remain open until 5 a.m. “Football might be coming home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This decision means fans could still be celebrating or lamenting just hours before the workday begins.
Concerns about a storm in Mexico City led to discussions about changing the match time. However, FIFA kept the original 6 p.m. local time. Mexico’s coach, Javier Aguirre, informed that his team considered adjusting around a potential schedule change, though FIFA did not consult him.
Impact on Work
Research by AO.com revealed 27% of World Cup followers might call in sick or arrive late if England wins an early match. Employment Law Director Gill McAteer told Newsweek that Monday might see more absences and late arrivals as people had less time to prepare for England’s game.
Helen Watson, a senior partner in employment law, noted that employers might observe more sick calls post-match. Handling these absences with standard procedures is crucial. David D’Souza from CIPD stressed that employers need not make special match arrangements but might offer flexibility if it doesn’t affect performance. According to McAteer, providing flexibility helps boost morale and reduces absences.
Fans’ Strategies
Fans are planning how to cope with the unusual timing. Paul Church, head of Talent & Growth, plans just three hours of sleep as he watches live and manages family duties. Tom Houghton, a PR professional, intends to start his day early and watch as if live before working from home.
Software manager Nik Rahmel shifted meetings later for his team, aligning with East Coast hours due to the game. On LinkedIn, Andrew Kuan reported that his company declared a work-from-home day. He planned to watch live thanks to work flexibility, vowing to work despite any tempting distractions following the match.
Anonymous fans expressed concerns over late-night viewings affecting work commitments and the stress of a potential loss. The tests ahead include England’s performance against Mexico and the Monday challenge for employers managing absences.