Will there be a day off on the day of the game between Brazil and Japan at 2pm? Understand what the law says

Brazilian team at the 2026 World Cup.
Reuters/Sam Navarro
Next Monday (29), Carlo Ancelotti's Brazilian team will face Japan in the 2026 World Cup. In addition to being the teams' first knockout match, there is another thing that sets this game apart from the others: it will be the first to take place during business hours on a working day, at 2pm.
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For those who want to follow the trajectory of the Canarian team towards the hexa, the early afternoon match could be an impediment as it coincides with the working hours of many Brazilians
But, after all, can the worker be absent from work or reduce their working hours to watch the game between Brazil x Japan?
➡ To help with planning, g1 spoke with labor lawyers, who explain how the legislation deals with release situations, agreements and absences related to the World Cup.
Time off or not?
The starting point is straightforward: the day of the national team's game is not a holiday. The legislation does not provide for any specific exception for the World Cup, and regular working hours continue to apply.
In other words, by law, working hours continue normally, regardless of the game, time or phase of the competition.
The release of employees, when it occurs, depends exclusively on the company's decision.
Companies like the startup GetNinjas, in São Paulo, decorated the workplace for the World Cup and will allow employees to watch the games at home or in their own office
Marcelo Brandt/G1
Many employers have the habit of releasing their team during the games, reducing the working hours or allowing employees to watch the match in their own workplace. Other companies maintain normal operations and treat gambling like any other activity outside of working hours.
When the company decides to release employees without discount, the time off is considered paid. This is a common practice in World Cup years and can be adopted without the need for a collective agreement, as long as the employer makes the rule clear.
In many cases, working hours are suspended for a few hours and resume after departure, which requires internal organization to avoid losses in service or workflow.
Lawyer Marcel Zangiácomo, partner at the firm Galvão Villani, Navarro, Zangiácomo e Bardella Advogados, explains that compensation may be required when the company opts for partial or total release during office hours.
Compensation needs to be agreed and respect the daily working hours limits. This means that the employee cannot be forced to work beyond what is permitted by law, even if the replacement is a consequence of the World Cup games.
Zangiácomo reinforces that the compensation "cannot exceed two overtime hours per day" and that the agreement "needs to be clear to prevent the worker from being surprised later".
According to him, it is possible to compensate in up to one year, as long as the correct type of agreement is made - individual verbal, individual written or collective, respectively.
Unjustified absence on game days continues to be considered a common absence. The worker may suffer a reduction in hours and lose paid weekly rest.
Warnings or suspensions may occur in the event of a repeat offense, but experts reinforce that missing just to watch a match, without prior notice or negotiation, does not constitute a reason for just cause.
Argentinean Gustavo Gagliano, 19 years old, works as a barber in Copacabana
Marcos Serra Lima/g1
For those who work on a shift basis or work in essential sectors - such as health, transport, security and customer service - the scheme is even more rigid.
According to Zangiácomo, sectors with uninterrupted operation face even more limits, because "the company cannot compromise essential activities because of the World Cup", which requires prior planning and dialogue to minimize impacts.
In these situations, individual agreements are more common. Supervisors evaluate operational conditions and decide on a case-by-case basis, which makes it essential for workers to anticipate and talk in advance.
Zangiácomo also warns that watching the game without authorization, even within the workplace, can be interpreted as indiscipline.
"If the company has determined that there will be no break, the employee needs to comply with the guidance. Otherwise, they may face a warning and even suspension," he states.
The lawyers also highlight that, in any scenario, dialogue is the best strategy. The lack of a single rule forces companies and employees to negotiate practical solutions, avoiding surprises and conflicts. Documenting these decisions helps ensure security for both parties.
When will Brazil's next games be?
If the team advances in the competition, workers and employers will have to plan ahead. This is because a possible Brazilian semi-final is scheduled for 4pm (Brasília time) on July 15th, a Wednesday.
The team's other matches in the knockout phase, however, will be played on the weekends.
Check out when the Brazilian team should play in the knockout stage of the World Cup:
16th finals: with the lead in Group C, Brazil will face Japan, second in group F. The match is scheduled for June 29th (Monday), at 2pm (Brasília time), in Houston.
Round of 16: if they advance, the Brazilian team will face the winner of the clash between the second placed team in Group E and the second placed team in Group I. The match is scheduled for July 5th (Sunday), at 5pm (Brasília time), in New Jersey/New York.
Quarter finals: if they reach the top eight, Brazil will return to the field in July 11th (Saturday), at 6pm (Brasília time), in Miami.
Semifinal: in case of classification, the team will compete in the semi-final on July 15th (Wednesday), at 4pm (Brasília time), in Atlanta.
Third place: if Brazil loses the semifinal, they will compete for third place on July 18th (Saturday), at 4pm (Brasília time), in Miami.
Final: if it advances to the decision, Brazil will play the World Cup final on July 19 (Sunday), at 4pm (Brasília time), in New York/New Jersey.

Source: G1