The World Cup is on right now, and it’s getting good. The group stage is behind us and we’re into the knockout rounds, where every match is win or go home, all the way to the final on July 19. These are the games people plan their whole day around, and odds are good that more than a few of your employees are already doing exactly that.
That’s an opportunity, if you want it. It’s not every year that a big chunk of the planet is watching the same thing at the same time.
The tricky part is that your team is probably split between the office and home, and some folks live and breathe soccer while others couldn’t name a single player. So how do you turn the moment into something fun for everyone without forcing it? We’ve got some ideas, and the good news is none of them require a big budget or a single form to fill out.
Run a Prediction Pool
This one is almost too easy. The field is down to a handful of teams and it’s single elimination the rest of the way, so the bracket practically fills itself out. Have everyone pick who advances at each stage, post the standings somewhere visible, and maybe put a small prize on the line for whoever comes closest.
And here’s one possible fun outcome: The person who knows nothing about soccer and picks by jersey color has just as good a shot as your office superfan, and watching the superfan lose to them is half the entertainment. Suddenly people who never talk are comparing picks in the hallway.
Host a Watch Party for a Big Match
Pick one of the big matches and watch it together. In-office folks pile into a conference room, remote employees join on a shared stream, and everybody’s yelling at the same screen at the same time. Trust me, even the people who wandered in just for the food get swept up once the match gets tense.
And do get the food. A watch party with snacks is a proper, fun event. A watch party without them is just like an office meeting.
Don’t Forget Your Remote Employees
This is the one some companies miss, and it stings. The office crowd gets the party while your remote folks watch alone at the kitchen table. A little something in the mail fixes that entirely.
Send a snack box or a small treat ahead of the match so they’ve got something to enjoy when the whistle blows. If you need ideas, our snacks for remote employees are a great place to start. It’s a small gesture, but it tells them they’re part of the fun, and that message lands harder than you’d think.
Keep It Light and Easy to Skip
Not everyone follows soccer, and that’s perfectly fine. Whatever you put together, make it easy to opt out without any side-eye. You’re offering a shared moment to the folks who want one, not scheduling mandatory fun. Keep that distinction clear and even your non-fans will appreciate the gesture, from a comfortable distance.
A Small Way to Show You’re Paying Attention
Little gestures like these do more than fill an afternoon. They tell your people you see them as people, not just names on an org chart. And you didn’t need a big occasion or a line item in the budget to say it. Sometimes a shared match and a snack in the mail is plenty.
You don’t have to do all of this, either. Pick whatever fits your team and skip the rest. One good watch party might be all you need, or a bracket that runs itself for the rest of the tournament while everyone checks the standings.
The final’s on July 19, and then the next one comes around 4 years later. So grab the moment while it’s here and your team will be talking about it long after the trophy’s handed out!