World Cup Kick-Off Delays: Why Matches Start Late

Scotland fans who had waited 28 years to see their team play at a World Cup likely did not mind an additional two-and-a-half-minute delay before their match against Haiti. After securing a 1-0 victory—their first World Cup win since 1990—the Tartan Army could reflect that good things come to those who wait. However, the delay in the Group C fixture in Massachusetts highlighted a persistent trend of tardiness at the 2026 tournament, with none of the first eight matches beginning on time.

Average Delays Across the Tournament

As of the latest matches, those eight fixtures have started an average of three minutes after the scheduled kick-off time. The opening game between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday was the worst offender, starting six minutes late. Saturday's match between Qatar and Switzerland was almost five minutes behind. The only games to begin within a minute of the official start were Australia vs. Turkey (40 seconds late) and South Korea vs. the Czech Republic (51 seconds late).

Root Causes of the Delays

While a minute or two may seem insignificant, FIFA meticulously plans every detail of the pre-match build-up. Each game has a dedicated running order, shared with media, listing exact timings for when teams and officials assemble in the tunnel, enter the pitch, and when national anthems are sung. This helps broadcasters schedule commercials without missing key moments.

For the Haiti-Scotland match, the teams were scheduled to take the field exactly eight minutes and 40 seconds before kick-off. However, the Haitian players were not ready, and the match feed showed a FIFA official hurrying them along. By the time both sides left the tunnel, they were already 90 seconds behind schedule. Other significantly delayed fixtures also featured late player arrivals.

Impact of Pre-Match Ceremonies

Matches involving co-hosts Mexico, Canada, and the USA were preceded by opening ceremonies, but those concluded well before kick-off and should not have caused delays. One contributing factor may be FIFA's decision to increase pageantry immediately before matches. The entire squad—not just the starting lineup—now gathers in the center circle for the anthems, with large flags displayed on each half. FIFA describes this ceremony as a "moment of unity, pride and emotion," but it is more complex to stage.

As teams, officials, and organizers become more familiar with the routine, the process may become smoother. However, it is also possible that FIFA has slightly underestimated the time required for these enhanced ceremonies.