World Cup leaves Kerala fans sleep-deprived
Football fans in Kerala are experiencing sleep deprivation due to late-night FIFA World Cup matches scheduled across different time zones. While students and workers struggle with fatigue, some professionals have adapted their schedules to accommodate the tournament.
Why it matters
It illustrates the intense cultural impact of global sporting events on local daily life and productivity in football-obsessed regions.
A reel of legendary former Indian footballer I.M. Vijayan wildly celebrating Argentina’s last-gasp win against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup pre-quarterfinal has recently gone viral on social media.
Mr. Vijayan, a devoted Argentina fan who fondly recalls playing football with Diego Maradona during a promotional event in Kannur as one of the greatest moments of his life, retired from professional football long ago and from police service in 2025. He can now afford to lose sleep over late-night matches played across different time zones and catch up on it during the day.
But thousands of equally passionate fans in football-crazy Kerala do not enjoy that luxury, leaving them to stumble through school and work like sleep-deprived zombies.
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