World Cup 2026 and the "nightmare" of time slots for Vietnamese fans.

Fans in Ha Tinh follow the 2026 World Cup schedule.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11th to July 19th in three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the participation of 48 national teams. The tournament being held across multiple locations in North America means significant time zone differences, posing a considerable disadvantage for Vietnamese fans in following the matches. According to the schedule, group stage matches will take place at various times, such as 2 AM, 5 AM, 8 AM - 9 AM, and 11 AM Vietnam time.

In Ha Tinh, the excitement of the world's biggest football event is gradually spreading, despite the schedule being considered quite difficult to follow. Over the past few days, many shops have been selling match schedules and team jerseys. In cafes, people have started discussing the notable matches, predicting the championship contenders, and planning to stay up late to watch the games.

Nguyen Tuan Vu is having a headache dealing with this year's World Cup schedule.

Besides the excitement, many fans also admit that it will be difficult to fully follow the 2026 World Cup due to time constraints. Mr. Nguyen Tuan Vu (residing in Thanh Sen ward) shared: “This year's World Cup is being held in many countries, so the match times are not really convenient for Vietnamese viewers. I've loved the World Cup since I was a child, so I will definitely still watch, but this time the schedule is really difficult. I can manage matches at 2 am, but matches at 5 am or 8 am are almost impossible because I have to go to work.”

If the 2022 World Cup created nights of football that were both visually stunning and emotionally charged, this World Cup is proving difficult for many Vietnamese fans, especially working professionals. Therefore, the 2026 World Cup is predicted to generate an unprecedented wave of highlight replays in Vietnam. Not everyone has the stamina to binge-watch the entire tournament for over a month. Furthermore, many cafes will likely see a decline in customers watching matches that are played too late or too early.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, an increase of 16 teams from the previous 32. This means the number of matches will increase to 104 and the tournament will last nearly 40 days. To fully follow the exciting matches, fans will almost certainly have to accept a disruption to their biological clocks.

The AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (USA) is one of the venues for matches at the 2026 World Cup *. Photo: Internet.*

Nevertheless, the allure of the World Cup remains irresistible to football fans. The big matches involving Brazil, Argentina, France, England, or the knockout rounds are still enough to keep millions up at night to watch.

Mr. Tran Trung Thong (born in 1994, residing in Ha Huy Tap ward) said: “The World Cup is a tournament that only happens once every four years, so I will still try to arrange my time to watch the exciting matches, especially the big matches in the knockout rounds. This year, I will cheer for the Argentina team and hope they continue to play impressively. Although the match times are quite inconvenient, I will definitely still follow and support my favorite team.”

Football has a unique appeal. Fans may complain that it's "difficult to watch," but once the ball starts rolling, many will still brew coffee, prepare instant noodles, and continue their familiar sleepless nights. The 2026 World Cup, therefore, may be the "most tiring" World Cup for Vietnamese fans, but it also promises to deliver a summer full of football excitement.