King Charles has approved a one-off bank holiday for Scotland, allowing fans to celebrate the national team's first World Cup match since 1998. The game against Haiti is scheduled for June 15, with kickoff at 9pm in the United States, meaning Scottish fans will need to tune in at 2am local time.
First Minister Proposes Holiday
First Minister John Swinney suggested the one-off bank holiday to give fans time to 'recover' before returning to work. '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,' he said.
English Fans React
Some English football fans are calling for a similar holiday for their team. One fan, Chris, told The Sun: 'I don’t understand why they’d be getting a Bank Holiday on the Monday if the game is on the Saturday night into Sunday morning. They’ve still got 18 hours to recover. But I suppose to give them their moment in the spotlight. Let them have a day off work because they’ll be going home in a week anyway.'
Many locals have pointed out that not everyone in Scotland is recognising the bank holiday, with schools and workplaces remaining open. One X user urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene to give England a bank holiday as well.
Previous Calls for Women's Team
After the Lionesses played in the World Cup in 2023, fans pushed for a day off, but it wasn’t given – even when they went on to win the Euros. A government spokesperson told the BBC: 'The current pattern of public and bank holidays is well established, and there are no plans to change this.'
Economic Considerations
Such days off can cost billions to the economy, bringing other issues to the country. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had previously said he would declare a bank holiday if the Matildas took home the trophy – before they were knocked out by England.
