33% of Dutch fans plan to wake for 3 a.m. Oranje–Morocco World Cup match
The Netherlands–Morocco World Cup round-of-16 match begins at 3:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Netherlands and could end around 6:00 a.m. if it goes into extra time and penalties. A survey by Hart van Nederland found that about 33 percent of respondents plan to wake up overnight to watch the match. Sleep experts warn that the timing will likely force many fans to stay awake the whole night or to wake up in the night, which can disrupt next-day functioning.
Sleep specialist Bert Lenaert told NU.nl that moving bedtime earlier is often ineffective because sleep depends on accumulated “sleep pressure” built through daily activity. He said low sleep pressure can make it harder to fall asleep or can lead to waking earlier than desired. He also noted that recent heat may further interfere with sleep quality.
Neurobiologist Lucia Talamini warned against staying awake for the entire night. She said an all-nighter can leave the body in a mild inflammatory state the following day and disrupt temperature regulation. She added that younger people may tolerate sleep loss somewhat better due to higher energy reserves, but the practice is still unhealthy for everyone.
Bert Lenaert said sleep is highly conditioned and linked to routine. He recommended beginning a wind-down earlier in the evening by dimming lights and reducing activity so the body recognizes it is time for sleep.
Talamini advised that those who fall asleep easily may go to bed early but should wake about 30 minutes before kickoff to avoid grogginess during the match. She added that turning on lights and sitting upright immediately after waking can help reduce sleep inertia.
If the match ends without extra time or penalties, fans could potentially sleep until about 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. After the match, Talamini says it is best to return to sleep quickly to limit disruption to the sleep cycle. She also advised avoiding caffeine, tea, alcohol, and heavy meals overnight.
For those unable to sleep before the match, Lenaert advised leaving bed rather than lying awake. He recommended doing something calming and allowing sleep to return naturally without stress.
