Football fever has hit the Middle East. More than 80 per cent of working professionals in the region are planning to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. This is even though most games will be played late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
A survey by recruitment platform GulfTalent found that 84 per cent of professionals across the Middle East plan to watch at least some matches. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This year, the World Cup is bigger than ever. The number of teams has grown from 32 to 48. Eight Arab nations have qualified, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Iraq. This has made people in the Gulf even more excited about the tournament.
Late Nights Are Coming
All matches will be broadcast overnight in Gulf time, roughly between 8pm and 8am. This is very different from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when games were played during or near working hours.
Nearly half of those who plan to watch said they will stay up through the night for some matches. Another similar group said they will only watch evening games before midnight. A smaller number said they will just watch highlights the next day. If you are looking for the best spots to watch games with friends, everlist.ae has great guides on places, malls, and entertainment across the UAE.
Workers Are Already Adjusting
Dubai resident Abdul Fattah said he is ready for the change. “I already know my sleep schedule is going to change over the next month,” he said. He plans to start work earlier on match days so he can sleep before late-night games.
The survey showed that 30 per cent of workers expect to go to work tired. Around 8 per cent said they would start work late, while others plan to work from home or take annual leave on big match days. Many fans in Dubai are already planning where to watch the games. The city’s Shopping Malls In Dubai are setting up big screens and fan zones so people can enjoy matches together in a lively atmosphere.
Employers Are Being Flexible
Most managers in the region are open to adjusting work schedules during the tournament. The survey found that 72 per cent of managers are willing to offer some form of flexibility. This includes later start times or time off after big matches.
Shafaq Majali, a manager at a UAE automobile company, said World Cup talk has already started in offices. “A few team members have already asked about flexible timings. We are also planning a team gathering around some of the matches,” he said. Many of these workers are based in Dubai’s busy commercial areas, which are home to the Top Companies In Dubai that employ thousands of expats from football-loving nations around the world.
Despite all this disruption, only about one in nine companies has created a specific World Cup policy. Many employers are turning the tournament into a team bonding activity through office contests and group match screenings. Workers who want to manage their money smartly during this busy season can also explore the Banks in Dubai to find the best options for savings and daily banking needs.
The GulfTalent survey covered 1,200 professionals from nine countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan.
