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The eyes of the globe are glued to North America for the 2026 World Cup. Though the U.S., Canada and Mexico will share host duties for the soccer tournament, the bulk of the event will take place in U.S. cities from coast to coast.
Matches begin in Mexico on Thursday and culminate with the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The event could affect workplaces for the next several weeks, and employers may need to revisit policies on subjects ranging from remote work to compensation, according to Marissa Mastroianni, an employer-side attorney and member at Cole Schotz.
1. If your city is hosting a match, expect commute delays
Perhaps the most obvious concern is the sheer influx of fans. Last year, advisory firm Tourism Economics projected that more than 1 million international visitors would travel to the U.S. throughout the month of June and early July. While initial analyses suggest that fewer fans may show up than anticipated, employers in host cities can nonetheless expect additional congestion on roads and public transit networks, Mastroianni said.
