JEDDAH: Late-night and early-morning 2026 World Cup broadcasts are severely disrupting football fans’ routines and habits in Saudi Arabia, with matches from the US, Mexico and Canada airing as late as 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
To cope with this, enthusiasts are adjusting their sleep schedules, taking naps, requesting flexible hours from employers and finding creative ways to stay awake to follow the world’s biggest sporting event.
For 40-year-old Waleed Al-Maddah, who works for an auto company, the World Cup is more than just a sporting event, it is a passion.
“Definitely, it is the biggest tournament in the world, and when it comes to my daily habits, things really change for this edition because of late and early matches,” he said.
“This year’s World Cup is really confusing and different. You sleep on a match and wake up with another match on. This year, I have completely changed my sleeping habits during the tournament. Sometimes, you wonder whether you sleep, or prepare for work, or watch a football match.”
“Some matches start at 4 a.m., therefore I take naps between matches, wake up before kickoff, and then try to catch a few more hours before heading to the office.”
For 32-year-old Amer bin Mahfooz, balancing work responsibilities with football fever presents a challenge.” I don’t want to miss the World Cup matches, but I have some work to do at night. I just sleep for two hours at night in order to wake up for the next match,” he said.
Despite the challenges, his friend, Ahmed Al-Omari, told Arab News that the World Cup is more than just football. It is a habit built over the years.
He says it is the excitement that matters to him. “The World Cup only comes around once every four years,” he said. “You can always catch up on sleep later, but you don’t want to miss a historic match.”
Meanwhile, banker Sameer Al-Ghamdi told Arab News that he is no longer able to follow every game as before, and instead is becoming more selective.
“I’m always excited for the World Cup, but this year I have to watch it differently,” he said.
“I can stay up for the 1 a.m. matches, but for the morning games, I either watch before work or catch up later. The World Cup is still enjoyable, but I can’t do that like before because of work.”
He added that choosing which matches to watch would now be necessary. “We can’t stay up for every match. We focus on the key games or watch replays later. Of course, I am all the way with our national football team, Saudi Arabia, in this tournament, but I will also support Argentina; we also have to take care of our health,” he said.
The change in schedule has also influenced how university student Badr Dahlan consumes football. Rather than following the entire tournament, “Due to the end of the academic year, I have to be selective when it comes to watching matches,” he said.
“I have to plan my study sessions around the match schedule.”
Commenting on sleep disorders during the World Cup 2026, Dr. Ismail Abduljawad, a psychiatrist, told Arab News that football fans should plan their sleep schedules carefully rather than staying awake for multiple matches.
“Football enthusiasts should manage their sleep properly. They must avoid staying awake all night for matches. Taking a short nap before a late-night match can help reduce sleep deprivation and support overall health.”
Families are also adapting; in some homes, parents allow children to stay awake for selected matches, turning late-night games into memorable family occasions. Others watch highlights and replays on digital platforms.
The impact extends beyond individual households. Cafes and lounges across the Kingdom are extending their operating hours to accommodate crowds of supporters eager to watch matches together.
Many establishments have introduced special World Cup menus and late-night promotions, creating a festive atmosphere despite the unconventional hours.
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