Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has hinted at the possibility of a bank holiday should England win the 2026 World Cup, as the Three Lions prepare for their opening match against Croatia tonight.
Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in Evian, France, Starmer did not rule out a celebratory day off, drawing comparisons to Scotland's one-off bank holiday for qualifying for the World Cup after 28 years.
Starmer said: "I'm not gonna jinx the World Cup, but, you know, the last time we won the World Cup it was a Labour government. And so it's absolutely clear that we only win World Cups under a Labour government. So let's hope that this is the next opportunity."
The Prime Minister, a known football enthusiast and Arsenal supporter, expressed confidence in the squad under new manager Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Gareth Southgate after England's defeat in the 2024 Euros.
Starmer added: "He's got a great squad. This is going to be a good game tonight, probably the hardest in the group games this evening. So we're looking forward to seeing the starting lineup."
This is not the first time Starmer has advocated for bank holidays tied to football success. In 2023, as leader of the opposition, he called for a bank holiday if the Lionesses won the World Cup. Although they lost that final, they won the Euros in 2025, but no bank holiday was granted by the Labour government.
England's opening match against Croatia takes place in Dallas, Texas, as the team seeks its first major trophy in 60 years. Starmer urged fans to "dare to dream again," saying: "Like every England fan, I'll be roaring on Thomas Tuchel, Harry Kane and the entire England squad. Come on England!"
