Will the government declare an official holiday or delay working hours on the day of the “Al-Nashama” match against Austria in the 2026 World Cup?

With the anticipated historic debut of the Jordanian national football team “Al-Nashama” in the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, public discussions and widespread calls have emerged regarding the possibility of the government declaring an official holiday or delaying the start of working hours to allow citizens to follow the team’s opening match against Austria, which coincides with early morning hours.

Time difference… the main challenge for fans

Jordanian fans are preparing to follow this landmark event, in which “Al-Nashama” will etch their name among the world’s top national teams. However, the main challenge lies in the time difference with the host countries.

The group stage matches for Jordan fall at times that conflict with official working hours, as Jordan is set to face Austria on Wednesday, June 17 at 7:00 a.m.

Calls for delayed working hours or an official holiday

In this context, social media users and followers have proposed several ideas aimed at increasing public support, most notably appealing to the Prime Minister’s Office to declare an official holiday on the opening match day, considering it a significant national moment.

Alternative suggestions also included adopting flexible working hours for employees, or delaying the start of the workday for a short period on match days that fall on official working days, allowing citizens to follow this national achievement without affecting professional commitments.