The World Cup has always had that pull: lunch breaks get longer, phones stay face-up, meetings drift when a major game is on. This time, the disruption could be even wider.
That is not just about fans skipping an afternoon. It is about offices, shops and service industries trying to run normally while a global event cuts across ordinary routines.
The next World Cup is expected to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the competition appears set to be more sprawling than ever. The report says the format will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, which naturally creates more kick-off times, more travel, more viewing windows and more opportunities for work to bend around football.
That matters because tournament football is not a one-nation story anymore. In multinational workplaces, support is spread across different teams, different time zones and different expectations.
This is not only a staff-floor issue. The update says 42% of managers are likely to plan a day off for matches, while 45% may seek last-minute flexibility. In other words, the people expected to absorb disruption may be dealing with the same temptation themselves.
For employers, the smartest response may be flexibility rather than resistance. For football, it is another reminder of the sport’s reach. As the countdown continues, the next subplot to watch is not only who lifts the trophy - but how workplaces adapt once the first whistle blows.