Calls for UK-wide World Cup Bank Holiday after King Charles makes unprecedented move
We're just a matter of days away from the long-awaited 2026 World Cup kicking off on Thursday (11 June).
While there's a lot of excitement in the air over the upcoming footy tournament, there's also a fair bit of buzz surrounding calls for a World Cup bank holiday after King Charles III made a totally unprecedented move.
Next Monday (15 June) has officially been confirmed as a national bank holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in the men's football World Cup finals.
Scotland's first match in Group C will be against Haiti at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, USA.
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While kick-off is set for 9 pm local time, it's a very late 2 am on Sunday (14 June) for Scottish fans keen to watch live.
An official press release shared by the Scottish Government has stated that Monday 15 June 2026 has officially been confirmed as a national bank holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in the men's football World Cup finals.
"The holiday was proposed by First Minister John Swinney to allow people, businesses and other organisations in Scotland to celebrate after the team’s opening game against Haiti," it outlined."
The statement added that Charles approved the Royal Proclamation, confirming the bank holiday, which will allow Scotland to celebrate the first time the men’s national team has participated in the tournament since 1998.
Speaking of Charles' approval, Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, said: "Scotland will be on the world stage this summer, and I want as many people as possible to be able to celebrate that moment. Football means a great deal to many people in this country, and it has been almost three decades since our men’s national team played at the World Cup finals tournament.
"The joyous reaction when Steve Clarke and his players secured qualification demonstrated what it meant to end that long absence."
He continued: "We want to make the most of Scotland’s participation in this global sporting event by ensuring people have the opportunity to come together and celebrate – no matter the outcome of the match. That is why I proposed making the Monday following our opening game in Boston a national bank holiday.
"I am very grateful to His Majesty King Charles for approving the proposal, and I encourage employers around the country to work with staff to put in place suitable arrangements that will allow as many of them as possible to join in the celebrations."
Since catching light of the news, football fans have rushed to social media pleading for the rest of the UK to also get a bank holiday, with one X user writing: "Where are England’s bank holidays?"
Another penned: "THIS IS THE NEWS WE NEED!!! Make every day after an England game a Bank Holiday, and King Charles will go down as one of the greatest ever monarchs."
They added: "Well, damn it's for Scotland only.... What about England?"
And a final X user chirped: "This country is so unserious, letting everyone have a holiday Monday for the World Cup."
Topics: Football, King Charles III, Sport, World Cup, UK News
Rhiannon Ingle