World Cup Set to Cost Employers $17 Billion in Lost Productivity, Survey Finds
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, employers worldwide are bracing for a significant hit to productivity, with many workers expected to prioritize matches over their regular schedules, according to a new survey.
The tournament, running from June 11 to July 19 and co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded format with 48 teams and 104 games. Research by UKG, an AI-powered HR, payroll, and workforce management platform, estimates the global cost of lost productivity could reach **$17 billion**.
Key Survey Findings:
- **37%** of employees plan to adjust their work schedules because of the World Cup.
- **27%** admit they are likely to miss work by arriving late, leaving early, or skipping the day entirely.
- **14%** say they will secretly stream matches or highlights while working.
- **11%** plan to work while hungover.
The survey polled 8,000 employees across eight countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UK, and the United States.
Biggest Impact by Country:
- **United States**: $11.7 billion in projected lost productivity.
- **Germany**: $1.34 billion.
"When absenteeism and presenteeism hit at scale, the effect is immediate and expensive," said **Suresh Vittal**, Chief Product Officer at UKG. "Productivity drops, customer experience suffers, and morale takes a hit as the rest of the team is left to cover the gaps."
Even managers are not immune. The survey found that **42%** of managers are likely to take a full day off for games, while **45%** plan to request last-minute flexibility.
With water-cooler conversations likely to revolve around football for the next six weeks, many businesses may need to prepare flexible policies or find creative ways to keep staff engaged during the tournament.