A study commissioned by bed retailer Dreams has calculated that England and Scotland football fans will collectively lose 120 million hours of sleep during the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada. nearly one in four supporters (23 percent) say they are prepared to sleep separately from their partner to avoid missing matches that kick off as late as 2 a .m. UK time. The research, based on UK viewing data from previous tournaments, points to widespread disruption primarily affecting older couples and those in shared households.

120 million hours: the math behind the lost sleep

According to the study, the figure of 120 million hours is derived from peak combined TV and streaming audiences of about 20 million viewers for England matches, multiplied by an average of at least two late-evening matches per person and roughly three hours of sleep disruption per match night. this includes delayyed bedtimes and time taken to unwind after games. The methodology relies on previous tournament viewing patterns and assumes that the late kick-off times—many as late as 2 a.m. UK time—will affect a significant portion of the audience.

The report notes that England's group-stage games begin at 9 p.m. UK time against Croatia, then 9 p.m. against Ghana, and 10 p.m. against Panama. Scotland face a 2 a.m. kick-off against Haiti, followed by 11 p.m. matches against Morocco and Brazil. These timings, especially the 2 a.m. start, are a direct factor in the projected sleep loss.

The over-55s are most likely to sleep apart

The study found a strong age gradient in willingness to sleep separately to watch matches. While only 13 percent of 18–24-year-olds would consider it, that proportion rises to 31 percent among both 35–44 and 45–54-year-olds, and jumps to 45 percent among those aged 55 and over , as reported by Dreams. Older couples appear more willing to trade shared rest for uninterrupted viewing, possibly because their children are grown or because they have greater control over household sleeping arrangements.

This pattern raises questions about how household dynamics change during major tournaments and whether the late kick-offs disproportionately affect an older demographic that may already have more rigid sleep routines .

From spare bedrooms to garden sheds: where fans hide to watch

To avoid disturbing partners, supporters are devising creative viewing locations. The study lists the top places: a spare bedroom (33 percent), in bed on a phone with subtitles on (32 percent), the pub (31 percent), on a phone beside a sleeping partner (30 percent), a utility room (30 percent), a garden, shed, or garage (23 percent), and even a car (20 percent). Almost one in ten fans (9 percent) said they had previously arrived late for work after late-night football, and one in four (25 percent) reported struggling to stay awake the next day.

The research indicates that younger fans are the most willing to sacrifice healthy habits: more than one in five 18–24-year-olds (21 percent) said they would skip their exercise routine to stay up for matches.

What the study didn't say: sleep disruption beyond England and Scotland

The Dreams study specifically focuses on England and Scotland supporters, leaving open the question of how other UK nations or fan bases around the world might be affected. The 120 million hour figure is an estimate based on UK viewing data, and the report does not account for potential differences in viewership for Scotland alone or for fans of other teams watching from Britain. Additionally, the study is based on self-reported intentions and past behaviour, not actual sleep tracking, so the real disruption could be lower or higher depending on how many matches each fan actually watches and how long it takes them to fall back asleep.

One unaddressed variable is the impact of the 2 a.m. Scotland vs. Haiti kick-off on the local Boston audience, which would be an early evening match (7 p.m. ET) and thus not cause sleep loss for fans attending in person or watching in that time zone.

The post-match wind-down: how late kick-offs affect work the next day

Beyond the bedroom, the study highlights the spillover effects on work and daily responsibilities. One in five (21 percent) said household responsibilities would be ignored on match nights, and a quarter of fans reported struggling to stay awake the next day. This suggests that the sleep disruption is not just a domestic issue but one with productivity implications. Experts interviewed by Dreams, including sleep expert Sammy Margo, recommend having a “sleep conversation” before kick-off, creating a low-light match plan, and protecting the post-match wind-down to mitigate the impact.