FIFA has unveiled the schedule for the World Cup final, and it will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19th at 3pm EDT. This means that fans in Europe can tune in during prime-time hours as the match is set to kick off at 9pm local time.
According to AccuWeather, the average temperature on July 19th over the past 30 years in East Rutherford is around 83 degrees Celsius with a RealFeel index of 89. However, this does not necessarily mean that it will be this warm for the final match.
Interestingly, nine out of ten World Cup finals from 1978 to 2014 kicked off between 2pm and 3:30pm EDT. The exception was the 2002 Japan final, which started at 7am local time. In contrast, the 2018 final began at 11am EDT, while the 2022 championship took place in Qatar during winter with a start time of 10am EST.
The World Cup final is expected to be an afternoon match due to logistical considerations and broadcast schedules. FIFA's chief tournament officer Manolo Zubiria noted that they aimed to "strike the right balance" between team preparation, recovery, and exposure to the world.
Other groups will have different start times, with some kickoffs as early as 1pm local time in Mexico City. Semifinals and quarterfinals matches are also set for various start times across multiple venues.
The World Cup final is part of a larger tournament schedule that includes 78 games in the United States, 13 games each in Canada and Mexico, and 14 group stage matches not yet finalized with Friday's draw.
According to AccuWeather, the average temperature on July 19th over the past 30 years in East Rutherford is around 83 degrees Celsius with a RealFeel index of 89. However, this does not necessarily mean that it will be this warm for the final match.
Interestingly, nine out of ten World Cup finals from 1978 to 2014 kicked off between 2pm and 3:30pm EDT. The exception was the 2002 Japan final, which started at 7am local time. In contrast, the 2018 final began at 11am EDT, while the 2022 championship took place in Qatar during winter with a start time of 10am EST.
The World Cup final is expected to be an afternoon match due to logistical considerations and broadcast schedules. FIFA's chief tournament officer Manolo Zubiria noted that they aimed to "strike the right balance" between team preparation, recovery, and exposure to the world.
Other groups will have different start times, with some kickoffs as early as 1pm local time in Mexico City. Semifinals and quarterfinals matches are also set for various start times across multiple venues.
The World Cup final is part of a larger tournament schedule that includes 78 games in the United States, 13 games each in Canada and Mexico, and 14 group stage matches not yet finalized with Friday's draw.
its gonna be held at metlife stadium in jersey on july 19th @ 3pm edt thats so lit! but i wonder wut the temp will b like btw accuweather says its gonna be totes hot tho 
avg temp in east rutherford is like 83 degrees celsius w a realfeel index of 89 lol what if its not even that hot tho?! FIFA's all about gettin that balance right between team prep, recovery & exposure tho 
... wont be fun for europeans who got plans lol! also wut about the heat tho? its gonna be like 89 realfeel or whatever idk how ppl r gonna handle that 
might be better to start later, dont wanna risk heat stroke mid match 
MetLife Stadium in NJ at 3pm EDT is gonna be a nightmare for people on West Coast! And 9pm local time for Europe? That's not even sunset yet! 
Not to mention the heat index, who knows what it'll actually feel like. I'm not saying they should choose a crazy early or late time slot, but some consistency would be nice... 
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plus, what's up with the prime-time start time in Europe? shouldnt we be worried about burnout or something? 
i mean I know it's the most exciting time of the year but can't they move the final to a weekend when ppl actually wanna watch it? and 3pm EDT is so early for those in europe lol wouldn't that be crazy? heatwave alert tho 83 degrees celsius is pretty hot 
at least it's gonna be a good excuse for some aircon shopping later
i'm actually kinda excited to watch a match during prime time, but also kinda nervous that it's gonna be super hot, anyone got some tips on how to stay cool? 
Anyway, I guess it's good they're giving fans in Europe some decent prime-time TV. Still, I'm a bit sad they can't play the final at night... would've been way more exciting 
!
On a more serious note, having the match kick off in prime-time hours in Europe could lead to some pretty intense viewing experiences. And with the heat index being around 89 degrees Celsius, it's gonna be an interesting test for both the players and the broadcast crew! 
️ What do you guys think? Should they just move the whole tournament to a more climate-controlled venue or what? 
. I mean, what if the team is just not feeling themselves after a morning kick-off? Wouldn't they be more focused and energized in the evening? 
. it's gonna be hella hot in jersey too, like over 80 degrees Celsius 
MetLife Stadium in NJ is gonna be electric 
and 3pm EDT is perfect timing, not too early or too late 
. Can't wait to see all the matches and cheer on my fave team 
! Still, I guess it'll be a great event to have here in the States 
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The timing of the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium is raising eyebrows! I mean, have you considered the logistical implications? FIFA's decision to schedule it for afternoon hours might be a clever move to boost TV ratings, but what about our East Coast friends who have to work the next day? 
I'd love to see some changes made to accommodate different time zones and fan preferences 
I'm loving how FIFA is trying to balance team prep time with broadcast schedules for the World Cup final! Starting at 3pm EDT does make sense since it'll be prime-time for European fans 
Anyway, curious about why they chose a specific start time... seems like a good call considering all the groups will have different kickoffs... wonder what it'll be like watching from Europe 