The England football team have a huge challenge taking on Mexico in the round of 16 of the World Cup – but fans back home face an equally daunting task: surviving the 01:00 kick-off on a Monday morning.
The match, on Mexico's home turf, will run until at least 03:00, and that's without extra time, penalties or post-match analysis. Pubs can stay open until 05:00. It is, according to sleep scientist Prof Russell Foster from the University of Oxford, “perfectly designed to screw things up”. He warns that fans won't fall asleep the second the final whistle blows because “you're going to get so energised, it'll be difficult to wind down”.
“England's World Cup match against Mexico kicks off at 1am Monday, leaving fans to choose between sleep strategies and sick days.”
Research from LG Electronics suggests over a quarter (41%) of football fans are committed to staying up for late-night fixtures kicking off between 10pm and 2am. But the tactics for handling work the next day vary: 1 in 10 will take a sick day, while 1 in 5 are brave – or foolish – enough to officially ask their employer if they can start late or finish early. 16% are using annual leave for the tournament, and 20% are planning to book the morning off after a late game.
Dr Victoria Revell, from the University of Surrey, outlines three sleep strategies. The most hardcore fans with no other commitments could go “full American” – putting themselves on North American timing, becoming almost nocturnal. It takes a few days to adapt, “the only price will be human contact”, she says. The “sandwich” involves two sleeps – one before and one after the game – but fans may be groggy and “might struggle to then fall back asleep”. The “squeeze” method means staying up all night and squeezing in a couple of hours before work – the simplest but “you're going to cut your sleep very short and there are consequences the next day”. Morning people might prefer the sandwich; night owls might favour the squeeze.
Even the 5pm kick-offs bring their own problems: 52% of fans cite “commuter anxiety” over poor signal and dying phone batteries when trying to stream on the move. That's why, on Wednesday evening, football legend Harry Redknapp helped launch “Redknapp's Red Route” – a one-of-a-kind London commuter bus experience that live-streamed England vs DR Congo on six OLED TVs. Reflecting on the bus journey, Redknapp said: “Nothing beats watching England with a great crowd, and this was something special.”
On England's next game against Mexico on Monday 6 July, he shared: “Look it's a tricky fixture going to that stadium, they've not lost there since 2013 and the altitude is a factor – but we've got to go there and play without fear. These are the games you have to relish – we've got a great chance with Harry Kane up front. Of course I'll be cheering them on – the late night isn't ideal, but that's why it’s essential to have the right TV and sound set up to bring fans closer to the action and transform the viewing experience, even into the early hours.”