The World Cup could make 2026 the ‘summer of working from home,’ says RTO guru Nicholas Bloom

• Many companies tightened return-to-office mandates after the COVID pandemic.
• The World Cup could cause employers to be more flexible, Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom said.
• Late-night games, pricier commutes, and the heatwave are boosting WFH this summer, he said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup may be doing more than entertaining soccer fans — it could also be giving remote work a summer lift.

Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford professor who studies hybrid work, says a combination of late-night matches, rising commuting costs, and a summer heat wave could make 2026 “the summer of working from home.”

“My bet: July 6th will smash UK records for working from home,” Bloom wrote in a recent LinkedIn post, referring to a World Cup knockout game that finished around 4 a.m. UK time on Monday. “After an amazing match ending at 4am, firms may have little choice.”

Bloom also pointed to rising oil prices, which he said have made commuting more expensive and already prompted employers to relax office attendance requirements for employees facing higher travel costs.

The tournament itself is also disrupting the traditional workday. Matches have stretched late into the night for some viewers, while others have kicked off during business hours, making it harder for fans to stick to a conventional office schedule.

Bloom also cited the ongoing heat wave, saying it has made commuting particularly unpleasant, especially for workers relying on trains, buses, and subways without air conditioning.

Temporary flexibility for office workers

Some Wall Street banks are already making temporary accommodations during the World Cup.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase have told employees they can request permission to work from home on match days because of expected transport disruption and congestion in host cities, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Citi has also advised employees in affected locations that those in hybrid roles should work remotely if their commute is expected to be disrupted and encouraged all employees to discuss their individual circumstances with their managers.

Goldman Sachs didn’t respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. JPMorgan Chase declined to comment.

The temporary flexibility also comes after many large companies like JPMorgan Chase, Starbucks, and Meta have adopted stricter return-to-office mandates since the end of the COVID pandemic.

While Bloom isn’t suggesting the World Cup will reverse the long-term return-to-office trend, he said that practical realities — from expensive commutes to extreme weather and major sporting events — can still shape how strictly employers enforce attendance policies.