Furious soccer fans have revealed the very specific reason they cannot fully enjoy Sunday’s World Cup final showdown between powerhouses Spain and Argentina.
The wave of backlash centers entirely around the match’s scheduling, with fans criticizing FIFA’s decision to host the tournament finale during the middle of the day.
The final kicked off at 3:00pm local time at the open-air MetLife Stadium, forcing the world’s biggest sports event to take place under bright afternoon sunshine.
Angry viewers quickly took to social media to express their frustration, arguing that the daytime slot completely drains the prestige surrounding the event.
Taking to X shortly after kick-off in New Jersey, one fan said: ‘World Cup final should always be played at night time. Dark sky just makes the occasion feel special.’
‘FIFA World Cup Final played in broad day light. Utter woke nonsense,’ another wrote.
Furious fans have vented their frustration with the World Cup final being played in the day
Previous editions of the World Cup final, such as in 2022, have been held at night time
Meanwhile, one user added: ‘World Cup final should be taking place at night. This is too much light’.
‘World Cup final in the daylight and without any aura. What happened to the beautiful game I love?’, another user wrote online.
‘The game just looks like ordinary match… no aura and the sunshine is not fitting.’
The previous two World Cup finals – hosted in Lusail, Qatar in 2022 and Moscow, Russia in 2018 – both began at 6:00pm local time.
FIFA’s Chief Tournament Officer in the US, Manolo Zubiria, previously explained that start times for the second half of the World Cup were calculated based on various factors – such as recovery for players and to ensure maximum coverage of the event.
‘We’ve tried to basically strike the right balance,’ he said.
With the World Cup final kick-off scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, it also hit a Sunday evening primetime TV slot across Europe.
The kick-off time wasn’t the only factor of Sunday’s final which drew the ire of fans.
Fans were left baffled as Tom Cruise delivered a pre-World Cup final ‘Ted Talk’ moments before kick-off, following a disastrous closing ceremony.
Fans rushed to social media shortly after kick-off to air their grievances with the timings
Argentina and Spain battled it out in the sweltering heat at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium
A bevy of Hollywood’s finest had been billed as performers with Cruise headlining the event, designed to pay tribute to all of the competing 48 nations from the tournament.
However, fans anxious to see the Hollywood icon, 64, were made to wait for almost 90 minutes as they had to endure a bizarre performance from YouTuber IShowSpeed in the buildup to kickoff.
Cruise finally made his long-awaited appearance less than 10 minutes before the teams walked out onto the pitch. FIFA reserved the actor for the grand finale of the ceremony with Cruise reflecting on the tournament, which has been the biggest in World Cup history.
‘So as we gather for one final chapter, let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together,’ he said. ‘Let us celebrate each other. This is football. This is unity. This is greatness.’
Fans were left baffled by the address with one viewer writing on X: ‘I’m disappointed Tom Cruise did not helicopter in for his Ted talk. FIFA missed an opportunity to collaborate with a chopper company.’
‘About as inspiring as watching your cat get run over,’ added another.
Others took issue with the message of unity with some pointing to the travel and visa chaos that some teams, including Iran, had to endure before and throughout the tournament due to US customs and border enforcement.
Tom Cruise opened World Cup final blockbuster with an emotional monologue
Popular streamer IShowSpeed kickstarted the World Cup final closing ceremony
‘Brought the world together. You banned Iran from entering your country until game day,’ one fan claimed on X. ‘And banned a referee from turning up.’
‘That had nothing to do with football,’ insisted another. ‘Just more USA’in (sic) c**p. How did the USA treat the Iranian team and players? Disgracefully, as fittingly represents the USA.’
The Mission Impossible star has been spotted in the stands throughout the tournament and performed a stunt at the Paris Olympics’ closing ceremony
Cruise had been billed as the main attraction, but fans were left confused to first see IShowSpeed dominating their screens rather than the legendary actor when the closing ceremony got underway.
