The 2026 FIFA World Cup commences on Thursday 11 June (12 June 5:00am AEST) with the Final played on Sunday 19 July 2026 (Monday 20 July 5:00am AEST).
As teams prepare for their first game, business owners are preparing for a sudden influx of colds, flu, and other illnesses that cause many football fans to take sick days over the five week-long event.
For games scheduled to be broadcast during working hours, employers may notice some team members taking extended breaks or are away from their desk or work area multiple times over short periods. They may be live streaming on their phone or other device.
This becomes even harder for business owners to monitor when employees are working from home.
As the World Cup progresses, business owners and managers often find themselves dealing with:
- Last-minute or multiple annual leave requests.
- Increased lateness following early morning matches.
- Fatigue, reduced focus and lack of concentration.
- Unplanned sickness and absence.
- Tensions between team members where flexibility around leave, start and finish times can be seen as unfair.
Keeping employees onside
Businesses will have employees who support different countries. Given the time difference between Australia and host nations US, Canada and Mexico, employees could be interested matches broadcast anywhere from very early morning to early afternoon.
When managed well, the World Cup can have a positive impact on your business. It can bring colleagues together and create a sense of connection and belonging even if supporting opposing teams. This can help enhance employee relationships through a shared interest and even improve productivity. Creating a win-win for employers and employees.
Rather than reacting to problems, consider proactive steps such as allowing employees to swap shifts or adjust hours where practical. Some businesses find allowing staff to watch key matches boosts morale and reduces absenteeism.
Don’t kick an own goal
For business owners, the World Cup can create real operational challenges. This can be unexpected sick days to lateness and even employees arriving at work after drinking if the game was on during lunch.
It’s important to remember however, not all employees will have the same keen interest in the World Cup. You should not assume every employee that calls in sick is not genuinely unwell. The key is balancing empathy for staff with clear expectations.
If you suspect sick leave is being misused, you can request a medical certificate, even for a single day’s absence. That is provided it’s already included in your current employment contracts and policies.
If an employee violates attendance, alcohol, or personal conduct policies during the World Cup, disciplinary action may be necessary. This can include:
- Verbal warnings
- Written warnings
- Performance management
The key is to follow your documented process step‑by‑step. Consistency protects both your business and your employees.
Not fielding a full team
The immediate impact businesses feel during the World Cup is a rise in absences. Employees may call in sick to watch a match, recover from an early morning kick-off, or to avoid missing a key quarterfinal or semifinal game.
When one or more employees are unexpectedly absent, the ripple effect can be significant. Absence impacts productivity, delays projects, and other employees are expected to complete additional tasks. This often leads to stress and resentment toward colleagues for not turning up to work.
You might want to monitor the scheduled matches to try and anticipate staff absence and keep a record of that day and the teams that played. Recording employee sick days will help you spot patterns and make sure you’re not jumping to unjust conclusions.
Managing your roster
With most games broadcast in the early hours of the morning, shifts and rosters can be impacted.
Even if employees don’t call in sick, they may be distracted, tired, or disengaged from waking up early to watch a game and not getting enough quality sleep. This could put themselves and other employees at risk of a workplace accident caused by fatigue or lapse of concentration.
There’s a very fine balance between understanding the excitement of the World Cup for some employees, trying to accommodate requested time off and maintaining fairness for all employees. A little flexibility can go a long way in maintaining goodwill and productivity across your entire workforce. And not just for those interested in World Cup matches.
Have a game plan
Whatever your industry or the size of your business, planning ahead can minimise the impact the World Cup will have on your business.
Strategies you could consider include allowing temporary flexible working arrangements, such as shorter lunch breaks, earlier start and finish times or allowing employees to make up lost time if an important game is occurring during normal working hours.
Your employment contracts and employee handbook are your strongest tools for setting expectations. They should clearly outline:
- Sick leave entitlements
- Requirements for medical certificates
- Policies on lateness
- Disciplinary procedures for breaches.
During events like the World Cup, it’s reasonable to remind employees of these policies. A short, friendly business-wide message can reinforce expectations without impacting the festivities.
The reality is, it’s not possible to approve every leave request. Encourage employees to apply for leave as early as possible so you can plan staffing levels to meet the needs of your business.
The FIFA World Cup is the largest single sporting event in the world. It brings joy and excitement to fans and workplace challenges for business owners and managers.
By referring to employment contracts, and discussing policies, you can manage absences fairly and maintain productivity. Setting expectations early and supporting your team through the event while they support their team will help your business navigate the tournament smoothly.
Our BrightHR Software can help you simplify employee management and keep track of multiple staff leave requests. You can monitor staff attendance from your mobile, see full downloadable reports that help identify absence trends, and know exactly who’s available before you assign them to a shift.