With the FIFA World Cup 2026 hosting major international tournaments, these are often associated with fans gathering at pubs and staying up late to watch matches. However, with many World Cup fixtures expected to fall on weeknights and at unusual hours for some viewers, it’s safe to say some fans may end up feeling the effects of late-night drinking the next day at work.
With this in mind, gaming experts at Winz.io have compiled a guide on how to survive the infamous World Cup hangover at work.
Try out an ice facial
When hungover, there’s nothing worse than that early-morning alarm for work, not to mention that pounding headache. After dragging yourself out of bed, trying out an ice facial might be an effective cure. Simply fill a bowl of cold water with ice and briefly place your face in it.
Ice facials are an excellent method of combatting the fatigue and exhaustion of a hangover and can be an effective pain reliever for a nasty headache. The rush of cold water can also reduce symptoms of anxiety, which helps to put the anxiety to rest as soon as possible.
More and more people are starting to incorporate an ice facial into their hangover rituals, mainly since social media popularised this technique. While dunking your head into freezing cold water probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list when suffering from a hangover, trying this at home before heading to work can be beneficial.
Stock up on sugary snacks
Eating a full English fry-up in the morning is renowned as one of the most effective hangover cures for many people. However, if you’re on a tight work schedule and the hangover-nausea is kicking in, stocking up on sugary treats throughout the day is a great way to relieve a hangover.
After a heavy night of drinking, your blood sugar levels can drop dramatically, so sugary snacks are a great way to bring these levels back to normal. Sugary fizzy drinks can also reduce hangover jitters and can help ease nausea throughout the day. Research has suggested that some fruits may help relieve certain hangover symptoms, with studies pointing to their role in supporting hydration and helping the body process alcohol more efficiently. Eating carbs on your lunch break will also provide some relief from nausea.
Even if you don’t feel like eating due to nausea, you must ensure you eat enough food throughout the day. Not eating will only worsen the effects of nausea and can result in dizziness due to low blood sugar.
Have a cold shower
Similar to the popular ice facial, having a cold shower before work can effectively reduce some hangover symptoms. The cold water can relieve headaches and provide a well-needed distraction from the psychological effects of a hangover, such as anxiety and stress.
Having a cold shower in the morning will also reduce the effects of fatigue, making you more energised and alert before heading to work for the day.
Hydration
While it’s advised to drink a glass of water in between every alcoholic drink, this is an easily forgettable principle when you’re out drinking with friends. Instead, before heading out for the evening, why not try filling up a glass of water and keeping it on your bedside table for when you get home? Drinking water before going to sleep is the most effective way to rehydrate your body after a heavy night of drinking. It will help to relieve the hangover symptoms the next morning, especially the painful headache.
However, if you forget to drink water before going to sleep, it’s essential to start rehydrating your body as soon as possible. Drinking water throughout the day will help relieve some of your symptoms quicker, so keep filling up a water bottle at work.
It may also be beneficial to drink an energy drink or two while at work to relieve symptoms of fatigue. A night of heavy drinking can result in an electrolyte imbalance due to dehydration, which is a major contributing factor of common hangover symptoms. Drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte can help restore your body’s electrolyte levels, making them an excellent hangover cure.
Refill the coffee pot
While coffee is not a complete hangover cure, it can undoubtedly reduce fatigue symptoms and make you more alert for the working day. Drinking coffee throughout the day may also reduce headaches especially those caused by a combination of a hangover and caffeine withdrawal.
Get an early night
Once you’ve survived the working day, the best way to get rid of a hangover is to get plenty of rest. Getting an early night will give your body time to recover and repair itself after a heavy night of drinking.
Hardy Heberle, CMO at Winz.io commented: “The World Cup is one of those tournaments where the celebrations rarely stay contained to weekends. With kick-offs spread across different times and the tournament running for weeks, it’s easy for fans to treat every big match like a one-off occasion, only to realise halfway through the competition they’re running on very little sleep and too many pub nights.
When putting this guide together, what stood out is that a lot of fans often forget that a tournament is more of a marathon than a sprint. Small choices like eating properly before heading out, spacing out drinks and making hydration part of the routine can make a huge difference when you’re planning to keep up with matches over several weeks.
The World Cup should be something fans enjoy rather than something they need to recover from. Pacing yourself means you can still celebrate the big moments without feeling like the tournament has completely taken over your following day at work.
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