Thanks to the ease of online video streaming, plenty of office computer screens will spend the next month flickering back and forth between soccer and spreadsheets.
Employment research firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas recently ranked what they called the top “productivity-sapping events.” The World Cup came in fourth.
James Pedderson, the firm’s director of public relations, said soccer’s showcase event isn’t as big in the U.S. as elsewhere, but it merited a high ranking because of its global appeal.
He also noted that much like with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, online streaming might have an effect on worker productivity.
“Soccer’s gaining popularity. I think the ease of access makes it easier,” he said.
For some fans, dedication to the national team takes special precedence during this time.
Just ask Max Croes. He’s a member of the D.C. chapter of The American Outlaws, a national nonprofit organization that supports the U.S. men’s national soccer team.
The organization provides a way for die-hard fans to meet, travel to and from games, and share their fervor for soccer.
Group members, Croes says, often go to great lengths to make it to games.
“It’s a lifestyle,” he said. “You’ve certainly got to plan your life around it.”
Croes and about 16 fellow American Outlaws are making the trip to South Africa to see as many games as they can, including the U.S. matches.
