​The decision to schedule the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on a weekday has upset a number of soccer fans in the United States. With plenty of uncertainty about how strongly the American public would embrace the sport before the summer kickoff, it’s fair to say the World Cup has been well received by the host nation overall. There has been a tangible buzz even in cities that aren’t hosting games, such as Chicago and Nashville, among many others. Yet, some supporters online have found the US kick-off times for the 2026 World Cup disappointing. Both semi-finals next week begin at 3pm on a weekday, which is far from ideal for fans in the United States who work traditional 9-to-5 jobs. This is despite the United States men’s national team’s matches against Bosnia and Belgium previously drawing prime-time TV ratings in the U.S. Their defeat to Belgium started at 8pm ET, while their win over Bosnia in the previous round began at 5pm CT.
With a large portion of the American workforce likely to be at work when the semi-finals start, fans have voiced their dissatisfaction. One supporter remarked, “Host nations, that literally paid billions to host, should get consideration above them for kickoff times.” Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images Another added it was a “joke,” noting, “This is a HUGE semifinal. When you host, the marquee games go in your prime time. That is how the Olympics work, that is how past World Cups have worked. The host market gets the showcase window. North America is hosting and got skipped for a weekday matinee. What is even the point of hosting?” Comments about the timing of the semis and the final being suboptimal abounded. “Timing of all the semis and the final are terrible,” one fan wrote, followed by another who said, “What makes it worse is the next game is on Wednesday; I wanted to watch both games but I can’t because I’ll be stuck at work. It’s so stupid.” Another observer admitted, “I also can’t believe they’re doing this.” “Agree. It’s really silly not to cater to local audiences,” echoed another upset viewer.
On the other hand, some fans defended the scheduling, arguing there is little point in catering to American audiences when the bulk of interest will come from Europe. France will face Spain in Dallas on Tuesday, before England meets Argentina in Atlanta the following day. The 3pm kick-offs are seen as favorable for European viewers. England’s match is set for 8pm BST, while France and Spain will play at 9pm CET. The final, meanwhile, is scheduled for a 3pm EDT kickoff on a Sunday, which is clearly more accessible for U.S. audiences. Read more: ‘Jude Bellingham is the best’ – Argentina fans admit England fears before World Cup semi-final. The two U.S. TV audiences that exceeded the viewership of the United States’ World Cup game against Belgium were the Belgium clash itself and the subsequent matchups that drew record numbers in the U.S. The buzz around Jude Bellingham’s greeting of Erling Haaland in the tunnel before England vs. Norway added a lighter note for SEO.