Argentina face France on Sunday in the World Cup Final, but many will have noticed a rather peculiar kick-off time for this game.
We’ve grown accustomed to many of the big matches at the World Cup kicking off at 7PM, both Semi-finals started at this time as well as the showpiece quarter-final games between England and France as well as Argentina vs Netherlands.
Despite many of the biggest games at this tournament starting in at 7PM GMT, this one is set to be an afternoon fixture.
So, why is the World Cup Final at 3pm? Let’s take a look.
Why is the World Cup Final at 3PM?
FIFA and the host nation are responsible for choosing the time of the final.
The explanation for this is rather simple, and it’s due to the timezone differences all over the world.
As the biggest global sporting event on the planet, FIFA always try their best to schedule the World Cup Final so that it can be viewed by as many people as possible.
Usually, FIFA aim to fit this game in at a time that suits everyone, but with the tournament being hosted in the middle-east this time around, it is significantly harder to choose a time that suits audiences around the globe.
A 3PM GMT start on a Sunday should allow fans from the Americas and East Asia to enjoy the game equally.
Of course, you also need to factor in the time of the game locally, which will be 6PM, prime time for a cup final of this magnitude for the fans who will be in attendance on Sunday.
The final also needs to accommodate for the idea of extra-time and penalties as well as the closing ceremony, so a slightly earlier start time is more fan-friendly for everyone in attendance and watching at home.
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