The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now well underway and by the time you read this England have already faced Croatia and Ghana in the group stage and with the final group game against Panama just days away.

Hopefully it already feels like football’s coming home, but Tuchel’s squad are more than likely approaching a pivotal moment in the tournament.

Of course, we can’t forget the Scottish national team as well, who have been bringing joy to the US with the Tartan Army’s screams of “No Scotland, No Party”.  It is great to see the team back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years!

If you have been watching the games, you will have noticed that most of England’s fixtures, so far, kick off at 9pm or 10pm UK time.

That is not too painful for most fans, but across the wider tournament, dozens of matches involving other nations are kicking off at midnight, 1am, 2am and beyond, as the North American time zones push games deep into the night time.

For employees, staying up until 3am to watch Argentina or Brazil can mean a difficult conversation with a manager the next morning. For contractors, it is a different story.

One of the genuine, if rarely advertised, advantages of working for yourself is control over your own schedule.

If you want to rearrange your day to catch a late kick-off, stay up for a second group stage game or simply take a slower start the following morning, you can in most cases.

There is no need to book annual leave or explain yourself to anyone. You simply manage your time around your commitments.

That flexibility is part of what makes contracting an attractive way to work. The World Cup happens once every four years and this one is the biggest yet (at least according to Donald Trump). There are 48 teams and 104 matches across the tournament to enjoy.

Of course, football isn’t for everyone but with a summer of sport ahead of us, including the start of Wimbledon on Monday, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you are following England into the knockout stages, keeping an eye on how Scotland fare or looking forward to strawberries and cream as you watch the tennis, being your own boss means you do not have to miss the moments that matter.

Enjoy the summer of sports and if any of the financial side of contracting needs attention while you have a quiet moment between games, our team is here to help.