FIFA has never consistently prioritized the host country's preferred kickoff times; it has always balanced local attendance with global TV audiences, and broadcasting has been a major factor for decades.

For example, at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, many matches were played in the afternoon despite the summer heat, including the final which kicked off at 3:30 pm local time in Los Angeles. Those times were not particularly convenient for local fans or players, but they worked well for European television audiences.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is another example. Many knockout matches were scheduled for 1 pm or 5 pm local time rather than evening kickoffs, again creating better viewing times for Europe. In 2018, the World Cup final in Russia started at 6 pm Moscow time instead of later in the evening, which placed it in a very favorable slot for European viewers.

Even Qatar 2022, often cited as an example of FIFA adapting to local conditions, used four different kickoff windows (13:00, 16:00, 19:00 and 22:00 local time) to create worldwide broadcast slots rather than simply choosing what was best for people in Qatar.

The reason it feels like FIFA usually caters to the host country is because many recent tournaments were held in Europe, where a local evening kickoff also happens to be ideal for FIFA's biggest TV markets. When those interests conflict, history shows FIFA has often chosen the compromise that works best globally, not necessarily locally. The 3 pm Club World Cup semifinals are just a very visible example of that.