King Charles III has approved a last-minute bank holiday for Monday, July 20, 2026, to celebrate Scotland's participation in the World Cup. The decision, made at the request of the Scottish government, has sparked discontent among millions in England who will not benefit from the day off.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney expressed gratitude to the monarch, stating: 'Scotland will be on the world stage this summer and I want as many people as possible to be able to celebrate that moment.' The bank holiday follows Scotland's first World Cup appearance since 1998, after their men's team qualified with a 4-2 win over Denmark in November.
Meanwhile, England has no such bank holiday scheduled. However, a motion has been tabled in the UK Parliament proposing a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup final on July 19, 2026. The motion calls for Monday July 20 to be designated as an additional bank holiday in that event.
The World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off on Thursday, June 17, with England playing Croatia at 9pm. Scotland's first group match is against Haiti.
