King Charles has approved a new one-off Bank Holiday for next Monday, June 15, allowing Scottish football fans to stay up late and watch the World Cup. However, the extra day off applies only to Scotland, after the nation qualified for the tournament for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Scotland's World Cup Qualification
The Tartan Army secured their place in the World Cup by defeating Denmark 4-2 in November, marking their first campaign since 1998. The tournament is being hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and Scotland's first group stage match against Haiti at the Vistib Stadium kicks off at 2am on Sunday, June 14.
First Minister's Proposal
First Minister John Swinney proposed that the following day be designated as a national Bank Holiday to allow fans to celebrate. He expressed gratitude to King Charles for approving the proposal and encouraged employers across the country to work with staff to enable as many people as possible to join in the celebrations.
Swinney stated: "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. 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."
Bank Holiday Details
The Bank Holiday guarantees a day off for public sector employees under the Scottish Government, but individual employers and local authorities can decide whether to follow suit. The majority of Scottish local authorities, 27 out of 32, have officially rejected or opted out of the Bank Holiday. Only Aberdeen City, Dundee City, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, and South Lanarkshire have granted their staff the paid day off and agreed to close local schools.
Scotland is in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Their second match against Morocco is scheduled for 11pm on Friday, June 19, a more accessible time for fans. England fans have not been granted a Bank Holiday for any of their World Cup games, with the latest kick-off time for the Three Lions being 10pm in the UK. England's first match is against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17 at 9pm, followed by Ghana on Tuesday, June 23 at the same time, and Panama at 10pm on June 27.
