Virgin Media O2 predicts major overnight broadband and mobile surge as fans prepare for a summer of late-night football

• Millions of fans are preparing to sacrifice sleep for late-night football matches as Brits plan middle-of-the-night alarms, sleeping separately from partners and even watching from sheds to minimise disruption
• Virgin Media O2 forecasts significant increases in both mobile and broadband demand during the tournament, with mobile traffic expected to rise and overnight broadband usage anticipated to increase during late matches
• The operator is preparing its networks for the big event, with round-the-clock monitoring, additional engineering support, and a pause on non-essential network changes to give fans great connectivity during the tournament.

The summer of football is set to keep Britain awake long after midnight, with millions preparing to sacrifice sleep, change working patterns and tune in from beds and sheds as fixtures kick off across North American time zones.

New research from Virgin Media O2 reveals nearly a third of UK football fans (29%) plan to take the day off work after watching late-night matches, while more than two-fifths (42%) expect the tournament to disrupt their normal routines.

From setting alarms in the middle of the night (18%), sleeping in separate rooms or on the sofa to avoid disturbing partners (10%), fans are already making plans to fit football around work, family life and sleep schedules. One fan is going a step further by moving his matchday setup into a garden shed, where he plans to watch late-night games and sleep afterwards to avoid waking his partner.

The tournament’s schedule is expected to create one of the biggest shifts in UK connectivity patterns seen in recent years, with Virgin Media O2 forecasting significant increases in both broadband and mobile demand throughout the tournament.

Broadband demand is set to rise as fans stream matches late into the night, while mobile traffic set to increase as fans get out and enjoy the fixtures, with the operator planning ahead to ensure its networks are ready.

Brits prepare to sacrifice sleep for football

The research reveals fans are already preparing for the impact that late-night matches could have on their everyday lives.

Nearly half of football fans (47%) expect to stay up later than usual during the tournament, while more than one in three (37%) believe it will affect their sleep schedules. Two-fifths of fans (40%) expect to adjust their working patterns, while over a quarter (29%) plan to book time off following late-night fixtures, rising to more than a third of 18-24 year olds (36%).

Confidence in England’s chances is also running high, with nearly half of Brits (49%) believing the team can reach the Final. And the further England progresses, the greater the impact is expected to be on both the nation’s routines and network demand.

Early fixtures are likely to drive overnight broadband usage as fans watch from home, while knockout matches are expected to shift audiences towards pubs, fan zones and outdoor screenings, increasing mobile traffic. The disruption won’t stop there: 26% of Brits say they would be tempted to call in sick the day after an England Final, rising to 35% among Gen Z employees.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer, at Virgin Media O2 said: “Major sporting moments now play out simultaneously on the pitch and online. Whether customers are streaming matches at home, reacting from pub gardens or messaging friends after a last-minute goal, the summer of football is expected to drive a major shift in late-night connectivity demand. Our teams will be monitoring network performance around the clock to keep customers connected wherever and however they follow the action.”

Virgin Media O2 is pausing non-essential planned network changes during key periods of the tournament to help maintain stability across its mobile and broadband networks. Its networks will be monitored around the clock, with additional engineering support available to tackle any issues.

The tournament will also be a major real-world test for Virgin Media O2’s 5G+ network, with fans expected to rely on mobile connectivity in pubs, fan zones, transport hubs and outdoor gatherings throughout the competition. This next-generation network is now available across more than 700 towns and cities, as part of the company’s £700m Mobile Transformation Plan.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Strand Partners’ specialist research team conducted a nationally representative online survey of 2,000 people in the UK between 29/05/2026 – 02/06/2026. The survey was representative by age, gender and NUTS 1 region. Strand Partners is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.