Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has entered the debate over whether children should be allowed to stay up late to watch England's World Cup last-16 match against Mexico, which kicks off at 1am UK time on Monday. She insisted that while parents can decide, children should still attend school the next day.
The Three Lions secured their knockout-stage spot in Mexico City with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday (1 July), thanks to a late double from captain Harry Kane. The 1am kick-off has sparked a national conversation about how families and schools should handle the morning after.
Tuchel's Plea and Government Pushback
England head coach Thomas Tuchel publicly urged parents to let children watch the historic match. "Write an excuse for school and let them watch football," Tuchel said during a press conference. "There's so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years... We need the support of everyone, and especially of the children."
However, the government has largely pushed back. Phillipson told the Press Association: "It's a late game, but children can be in school the next day. This is about decisions for individual families." Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith echoed these concerns, warning against missing classroom time. Speaking to LBC, she said she did not want to be a "killjoy" but emphasised that missing learning could hinder young people's futures. She added: "I'll be having a little disco nap in the afternoon and I'll be celebrating our victory the next morning when I go into work."
Union Calls for Flexible Start
The teaching profession has signalled a desire for compromise. Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), called on the government to officially sanction a delayed start to the school day on Monday. "It would be very good if the Secretary of State recognised that it's an important event in our calendar and allow a flexible start on that Monday morning," Kebede told BBC Breakfast.
Match Context
The off-field debate follows a nerve-shredding performance on the pitch. England narrowly avoided a historic upset against the DR Congo after falling behind to a 7th-minute goal from second-division Spanish league forward Brian Cipenga. Kane's late-game heroics rescued the squad, setting up Monday's formidable encounter at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
