The scene is not much different for fans of Algeria, Jordan, Iraq and Qatar. Algeria will face Argentina at four in the morning, then Jordan at six in the morning, and Austria at five in the morning. Jordan, in turn, will play tough matches, including facing Austria at seven in the morning and Argentina at five in the morning. As for Iraq, it will start against Norway at one in the morning, then face France at midnight, before a more merciful match against Senegal at ten in the evening. Only Qatar seems to be in a relatively better situation, as it plays two matches at ten in the evening, compared to facing Canada at one in the morning.
These dates reveal that the 2026 World Cup will not only be a sporting event, but also a social event. In Lebanon, cafes may find themselves facing a new type of work, between evening matches that can fill the halls, and others at dawn. At home, some matches will turn into long family evenings, while other matches may become the subject of discussion the next morning, between those who watched them live and those who were satisfied with the results and summaries.
The time difference will also affect the rhythm of work and study. An employee who watches a match that ends at dawn will not start his day in the same way, and a student who is waiting to face his team at five or six in the morning will find himself facing a difficult choice.
In this sense, the World Cup will add a “crisis” to the fans. Between the 10 p.m. matches and the 5 a.m. matches, the Arabs will experience a World Cup almost without sleep, but it may be one of the most present editions in people’s daily memories.
