The World Cup effect: Are your employees match-ready for work?

With the FIFA World Cup now in full swing, millions of fans are staying up to watch dramatic late-night fixtures, surprise results and knockout football. While the tournament can be a great source of workplace conversation and boost team morale, it can also create challenges for employers.

Many matches are taking place late at night or in the early hours due to time differences, leaving some employees arriving at work more tired than usual. Combined with increased alcohol consumption around games, disrupted sleep can affect energy, concentration and decision-making.

For SMEs, these impacts can be particularly significant. Smaller teams often have less flexibility to absorb absences or dips in productivity, meaning even one fatigued employee can affect customer service, operations or workplace safety.

The hidden impact of late kick-offs

Most adults need 7–8 hours of sleep each night to perform at their best. Even a modest reduction can have a noticeable impact.

• Sleeping for 5–6 hours can reduce productivity by around 19%.
• Fewer than 5 hours’ sleep is linked to a 29% drop in productivity.
• Reduced sleep slows reaction times, impairs decision-making and increases fatigue.

As the tournament progresses and late nights begin to accumulate, these effects can become more pronounced, particularly for employees working shifts, driving for work or carrying out safety-critical tasks.

Fatigue: the silent red card

Fatigue is one of the biggest hidden workplace risks during major sporting events and can impair performance in ways comparable to alcohol. After 17 hours awake, performance can be similar to someone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%, rising to around 0.10% after 24 hours awake—above the UK drink-drive limit. Fatigue also contributes to around 13% of workplace injuries.

For SMEs, where every employee plays an important role, managing fatigue can help reduce mistakes, maintain productivity and protect both people and the business.

Supporting your team while the tournament continues

The World Cup should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, but employers can help minimise workplace risks by encouraging good sleep habits, promoting responsible alcohol consumption and checking in with employees who may be showing signs of fatigue.

For SMEs looking for additional support, Medigold Health Protect provides affordable access to expert occupational health and wellbeing services through a simple monthly subscription.

Whether you need advice on managing sickness absence, support with employee health concerns or guidance on workplace wellbeing, Protect gives you access to occupational health expertise without the cost of an in-house team.

With the right support, your business can help employees enjoy the World Cup while staying healthy, productive and match-ready for work.

Want to see how prepared your organisation is? Take our World Cup Quiz to test your knowledge of sleep, fatigue and alcohol in the workplace. You’ll also receive our World Cup 2026 HR Playbook, packed with practical guidance for supporting employees and managing risk during major sporting events.