PETALING JAYA: After five weeks of late nights and mostly 3am kick-offs, one wonders how much sleep FIFA World Cup fans have sacrificed leading up to the final between Spain and Argentina on Oct 20.
The UK-based Sleep Charity released its “World Cup Sleep Tax” to measure sleep disruption among supporters of the 48 competing nations caused by the tournament’s different time zones.
The survey found that fans in countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, the Czech Republic and Scotland experienced some of the highest levels of sleep disruption.
International reports have suggested that football fans could lose between two and three hours of sleep because of the late-night kick-offs.
While it is unclear how Malaysian football fans have been affected, health experts cautioned that sleep deprivation should not be taken lightly.
Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh of Prince Court Medical Centre said sleep does not operate like a bank account.
“You can’t always fully ‘pay back’ lost sleep simply by sleeping extra hours on weekends or days off,” he said, adding that adults should aim for about seven hours of sleep each night.
He said going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including on weekends, is crucial.
“This regularity helps regulate the body’s internal clock, improving both sleep quality and daytime functioning,” the consultant ENT surgeon and medical director said.
Dr Kuljit added that the effects of a single night of poor sleep can often be reversed by returning to a healthy sleep routine over the following days.
However, persistent sleep deprivation over several days or even weeks can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health, he said.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said staying up late to watch World Cup matches may come with certain health risks.
“Watching the World Cup can increase the risk of acute cardiovascular events.
“These can sometimes be triggered by intense stress, anger, sadness or sleep deprivation, as well as dehydration caused by irregular viewing hours and poor dietary choices associated with watching matches.”
She added that World Cup matches often require viewers to alter their normal sleep schedules, potentially leading to chronic sleep deprivation and heightened anxiety.
“Prolonged sleep deprivation and anxiety can also weaken the immune system, leaving individuals more vulnerable to illness,” she said.
