The report says a review of Swedish absence patterns from 2005 to 2025 found that short workplace absences became more common during European Championships and World Cups.
It places those absences at 27% of relevant weeks when a major tournament was being played, compared with 19% in weeks without one. The likelihood of a short absence was described as 57% higher during tournament weeks.
Those figures do not prove that every missed shift was caused by football. The report also cautions that tournament timing cannot explain every absence. Still, the pattern reflects a familiar reality: summer holidays are adjusted, isolated days off are taken and match schedules begin to shape daily life.
Elanga, who came on late against Tunisia, also spoke about the emotional pull of the competition.
“É muito legal ver todos juntos, como isso pode ser importante e poderoso. Espero que possamos dar mais alegria ao país e vencer mais partidas por eles,” he said.
That sense of unity can be valuable for a team navigating the pressure of a World Cup. Sweden’s players are not only chasing results; they are carrying the hopes of supporters who have rearranged routines to watch them.
The next challenge is the Netherlands, a match that will reveal whether Sweden’s opening-night energy can become sustained tournament momentum. The 5-1 victory has created excitement, but the Dutch should provide a sharper test of the team’s organisation, composure and attacking threat.
A strong performance would give the campaign greater authority-and ensure even more Swedish workplaces feel the impact of the national team’s next chapter.