On 17/6, at 8:00 AM, Argentina's opening World Cup match had Nhat Anh, 28, from Yen Hoa ward, Hanoi, minimizing his computer screen, typing diligently while discreetly watching to avoid his supervisor's notice.

His company prohibits personal activities during working hours. To follow matches scheduled between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, he had to find ways to bend the rules.

"Secretly watching football while sitting opposite your boss is as stressful as cheating during an exam," Nhat Anh said. Despite this, last week he managed to watch six matches of his favorite teams without getting caught.

However, secret viewing meant suppressing all emotions. Once, when his favorite team scored, Nhat Anh involuntarily jumped up, causing 10 colleagues to turn and look. He pretended to have an errand outside to cover his embarrassment. "I accept the risk, but I am always afraid of being caught," Nhat Anh shared.

The World Cup 2026 matches are held in three North American countries: the US, Mexico, and Canada. The time zone difference poses a challenge for Vietnamese fans. Matches occur at various times, often from 11:00 PM-12:00 AM, then 2:00 AM-3:00 AM. Many key matches fall between 6:00 AM-8:00 AM or 10:00 AM-11:00 AM. This schedule puts workers in a difficult position: watching at night leads to sleep deprivation, while daytime matches clash with work or study hours.

Nhat Anh watches the match between Argentina and Algeria on a minimized screen at 8:00 AM on 17/6, in his office in Yen Hoa ward, Hanoi. *Photo: Provided by subject*

Unlike Nhat Anh, Thuy Linh, 25, an accountant in TP HCM, watches the tournament on her mobile phone due to her central office location. Having previously had her salary deducted for personal activities, she now plays matches and listens to the commentators. Linh only quickly glances at the screen during important plays. For matches involving her favorite teams, Argentina and South Korea, she goes to the restroom or medical room for about 20 minutes per half to watch. "It is a last resort to watch secretly because I do not want to wait for replays," Linh said.

The experience of secretly watching football is a topic of discussion on many social media forums. A post showing dozens of office workers suddenly standing up and applauding, revealing their secret football viewing, garnered over 3,000 likes on Threads. Many accounts shared screenshots of minimized computer screens or tutorials on how to "celebrate silently".

This trend has created two opposing viewpoints. Supporters propose that businesses be flexible and accommodate employees' viewing, calling it a "once-every-four-years event". Opponents argue that this behavior reduces productivity, violates internal regulations, and requires strict handling to avoid setting a precedent.

Acknowledging that watching football consumes work time, Nhat Anh and Thuy Linh stated they must work overtime or shorten lunch breaks to complete their tasks. Nhat Anh said he only watches matches featuring his idols. "I prioritize work and try to adjust my schedule reasonably," he said.

An office worker in Thanh Xuan ward, Hanoi, secretly watches the World Cup match between Mexico and South Korea on the morning of 19/6. *Photo: Provided by subject*

Bui Doan Chung, founder of the Vietnam HR Community, observed that employees' desire to watch football is realistic. A major, community-connecting tournament like the World Cup is an irresistible cultural event. Secret viewing suggests employees feel their work environment is not safe enough, lacking space to openly share personal needs.

"An open work environment should be a place where people do not need to hide legitimate needs, but rather find ways to reconcile them together," the expert stated.

According to Chung, watching football during work hours creates consequences for both sides. Employees become distracted, leading to reduced productivity and increased error rates. For businesses, simultaneous employee access to streaming platforms can clog internal network bandwidth. "Statistics from European countries show that average employee productivity decreases by about 25% during football seasons," Chung noted.

Chung suggested companies could assign tasks based on results, evaluate output quality instead of managing time, or allow employees to register for flexible shifts.

In Hai Phong, Duc Thang, director of an import-export company, screened three matches during office hours for 20 employees to watch together. After the matches, everyone returned to their workstations. Thang said this solution helps eliminate scattered secret viewing.

Meanwhile, in more strictly managed environments, employees opt for different solutions. Hien Minh, 32, in TP HCM, said he takes a half-day leave for major matches. He chooses to watch at a coffee shop or at home. "I would rather lose a day of leave than watch while worrying about work," Minh stated.

Quynh Nga