Companies worldwide could absorb up to $17 billion in lost productivity during the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to a survey by UKG, an AI-powered workforce management platform.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and for the first time will feature 48 national teams playing 104 matches. UKG surveyed 8,000 employees across Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States to gauge the likely workplace impact.
The findings are stark. Some 37% of workers said they plan to adjust their schedules around match times. Another 27% indicated they may miss work entirely or arrive late and leave early. A further 11% admitted they expect to show up exhausted after staying up late to watch games, and 14% said they plan to watch matches or highlights covertly during working hours.
Managers are not immune. Some 42% said they are likely to book time off during the tournament, and 45% said they would request last-minute flexible working arrangements.
The US is projected to bear the heaviest share of the losses, at an estimated $11.7 billion. Germany follows at around $1.34 billion.
Suresh Vittal, chief product officer at UKG, said absenteeism and presenteeism both hit businesses quickly, reducing output, affecting customer experience, and placing extra pressure on colleagues to cover the gap.
