A decree published overnight on 12 June by Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Public-Service Innovation authorises federal civil servants to leave work up to three hours before any match played by the national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The order applies to the roughly 570 000 employees of ministries, agencies, state-owned enterprises and internships nationwide. Release times are pegged to kick-off: for a 7 p.m. Brasília-time game like Brazil’s opener against Morocco on 13 June, staff may depart from 4 p.m.; for afternoon fixtures they may leave at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. Crucially, the hours must be made up between 3 August and 30 September, capped at two hours per day (one for interns). Units providing essential services—defence, health, border control and consular support—must maintain normal rosters. The measure matters to global-mobility and travel managers for two reasons. First, it signals heavy peak demand on domestic and international transport around game days as millions of employees gain extra travel time; airlines and coach companies are already loading extra capacity. Second, companies interacting with federal regulators—from visa processing at the Federal Police to customs clearance—should expect reduced counters in the late afternoon and plan submissions accordingly.
Companies needing to keep travel plans on track during these shortened public-sector hours can turn to VisaHQ’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), which offers real-time updates on appointment availability, alternative filing locations and a full suite of courier services to ensure visas are processed smoothly despite World Cup disruptions.
The Federal District government immediately mirrored the decree, and several states are expected to follow suit. Private-sector employers have no obligation to copy the rule but many multinationals operating in Brazil historically grant flexible hours during big tournaments to maintain morale. HR specialists advise drafting clear compensation policies now to avoid disputes over overtime or salary deductions once the tournament ends.
Companies needing to keep travel plans on track during these shortened public-sector hours can turn to VisaHQ’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), which offers real-time updates on appointment availability, alternative filing locations and a full suite of courier services to ensure visas are processed smoothly despite World Cup disruptions.
The Federal District government immediately mirrored the decree, and several states are expected to follow suit. Private-sector employers have no obligation to copy the rule but many multinationals operating in Brazil historically grant flexible hours during big tournaments to maintain morale. HR specialists advise drafting clear compensation policies now to avoid disputes over overtime or salary deductions once the tournament ends.
