Japan

Japan in Group F faces the most extreme timezone displacement of any team from a major football nation. Tokyo (Japan Standard Time, UTC+9) sits 13 to 14 hours ahead of the Central Time venues where Japan plays, meaning every group stage match kicks off in the small hours of the Japanese morning.

The Group F opener on June 14 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas sees Japan face the Netherlands at 15:00 Central Time. In Tokyo, that is 05:00 on June 15 - an alarm set for 4:30 in the morning. Japan’s second group match on June 20 at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey against Tunisia starts at 22:00 Monterrey time (which matches Central Daylight Time), translating to 12:00 on June 21 in Tokyo - a Saturday lunchtime kickoff. By far the most accessible slot of the group stage for Japanese fans. The third match on June 25 in Dallas at 18:00 Central against a UEFA qualifier becomes 08:00 on June 26 in Tokyo. An early Sunday morning kickoff.

Japan has a deeply established tradition of watching World Cup matches at impossible hours. The 2002 tournament played at home delivered games at local-friendly times, but every World Cup since - Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Qatar - required Japanese fans to wake before sunrise for at least some matches. Viewing parties at 5am in Tokyo izakayas have become a cultural institution.

The Monterrey match at noon Tokyo time is the group stage gift. The Netherlands opener at 5am is the commitment test. Japanese fans will show up for both.