Fans 1, Productivity 0: How FIFA World Cup 2026 could trigger $17bn loss worldwide

Representative image (Picture credit: Reuters)The FIFA World Cup may be the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet, but for employers it could also become one of the biggest workplace disruptions of the year.A survey by workforce management firm UKG had estimated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could result in at least $17 billion in lost productivity globally, with the United States alone accounting for $11.7 billion.The report suggested that millions of employees planned to alter their work schedules, skip work, stream matches during office hours or even report to work exhausted or hungover as the month-long tournament unfolded.The findings were released before World Cup fever gripped fans across host nations, with the tournament now set to conclude on Sunday when defending champions Arge