OrganisING a World Cup Viewing Party at Work

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With England and Scotland both in the tournament and some matches kicking off in the evening UK time, there’s a real opportunity to bring your team together and make the most of it.

A World Cup  viewing party at work, done right, can do wonders for morale and team culture. Done wrong, it can create headaches. Here’s how to get it right, including a few things worth knowing from a legal and compliance perspective!

 

Start with a conversation, not a projector

Before you start ordering flags and planning a half-time buffet, check in with your management team. Not every business will want to factor in the World Cup during working hours, and that’s a fair call depending on the industry. If you get the green light, it’s much easier to organise something properly than to sort it out at the last minute.

Think about which games matter most to your team. England’s group-stage matches, the knockouts, the final; you don’t have to watch every game. Picking a handful of key fixtures and planning around those is usually the most practical approach.

 

Sort the TV licence first

This is the bit people often overlook, so it’s worth being clear about. If your workplace is going to show live television, it needs a valid TV licence for that address. A personal TV licence at home doesn’t cover your workplace, and the responsibility sits with the business, not the individual.

The good news for the 2026 World Cup is that all 104 matches are being shown free-to-air on BBC and ITV. That means you don’t need a Sky Sports or TNT Sports commercial subscription to watch the tournament. As long as your workplace has a commercial TV licence, you’re covered for any match shown on BBC or ITV.

 

Think about the practicalities

Once the permissions and paperwork are in order, it’s time to think about the setup. A few things worth considering:

  • Screen size and placement: a laptop screen isn’t going to cut it for a big group. Think about whether you have a TV, monitor, or projector that gives everyone a decent view.
  • Sound: make sure the volume works for the space without disturbing people who aren’t watching, especially if your office is open plan or shared with other businesses.
  • Seating: move things around if you can. Making it feel like an event rather than a rushed afterthought makes a real difference.
  • Catering: even just some snacks and drinks can make it feel like a proper occasion. If you’re providing alcohol, keep it sensible and make sure there are non-alcoholic options too.
  • Timing: if a game falls during working hours, be clear about whether people are watching instead of working, on a break, or whether you’re adjusting the working day. Getting this sorted upfront avoids any awkwardness.

 

 

Be mindful of your whole team

Not everyone in your office will be a football fan, and that’s completely fine. Make sure watching is optional, not expected, and that people who’d rather crack on with work aren’t made to feel like they’re missing out on something compulsory.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that your team will likely represent a range of nationalities. If you’re supporting England, great. But keep it inclusive and make sure people cheering for other teams feel just as welcome.

 

Data & comms: keep it straightforward

If you’re sending out a calendar invite, a WhatsApp message, or any kind of workplace communication about the viewing party, you don’t need to overthink it from a GDPR perspective. Internal communications with your own employees about a work event are generally fine.

Where it gets more relevant is if you’re collecting RSVPs, storing sign-up data, or sending external communications to clients or guests. In those cases, keep it simple: only collect information you actually need, store it securely, and don’t use it for anything beyond organising the event. If you’re in any doubt, check with your data protection lead or refer to your company’s GDPR policy.

 

WHAT ABOUT COWORKING SPACES?

If you’re based in a coworking or flex office space, it’s worth having a quick conversation with your on-site management team before setting anything up. Most flexible workspaces are shared environments, so a bit of coordination goes a long way.

At 2-Work, our on-site managers are there to help make things like this work smoothly. Whether you want to use a meeting room for a smaller group, or you’re planning something for the wider team, we can help you figure out the right setup. It’s one of the benefits of being part of a managed workspace rather than going it alone in a conventional office.

 

THE SHORT VERSION

A World Cup viewing party at work is a brilliant idea, as long as you’ve got the right TV licence in place, management is on board, and you’ve thought about how to make it inclusive. The 2026 tournament is free-to-air on BBC and ITV, so the barriers are lower than you might think. A bit of planning goes a long way, and the boost to team morale is absolutely worth it.

If you’re looking for a flexible workspace that makes it easy to bring your team together for moments like this, take a look at what we offer at 2-Work. We’d love to have you.