July the 14th, 2026 – Croatia is now unfortunately out, but it seems football fever was very strong as 1 in 10 Croatian employees were late for work after watching the World Cup.
The late-night kick-off times at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are affecting more than just football fans’ sleep schedules. A new survey by Alma Career Croatia has found that 1 in 10 Croatian employees (9%) admitted arriving late for work after staying up late to watch World Cup matches.
Poslovni reports that the survey, conducted among more than 250 respondents, examined how the tournament has influenced workplace habits. An additional 5% of participants said they had taken a day off or used annual leave specifically so they could follow the competition without worrying about work the next day.
Despite the disruption caused by matches played late at night because of the North American time zones, most football fans said they have managed to balance their enthusiasm with their professional responsibilities. Around 45% of respondents said they are following the World Cup while continuing to function normally at work. Some choose to watch only matches played at more convenient times, while others stay up for late fixtures but insist it has no noticeable impact on their performance.
Meanwhile, 41% of those surveyed said they are not following the tournament at all. Some cited a lack of interest in football, while others said the late kick-off times were simply too inconvenient. A number of respondents said they only watched matches involving the Croatian national team and lost interest once Croatia’s campaign ended.
The findings highlight how major international sporting events continue to spill over into everyday working life. While the World Cup creates a shared sense of excitement across Croatia, the survey suggests that, for most supporters, football passion stops short of significantly affecting productivity, although a small but notable proportion of workers admit the beautiful game has occasionally made them late for the office.
