King Charles has approved a one-off Bank Holiday for Scotland on Monday, June 15, allowing fans to stay up late and watch the national team's World Cup opener. The holiday, requested by First Minister John Swinney, marks Scotland's first men's World Cup appearance since 1998.
The Tartan Army secured their place in the tournament after defeating Denmark 4-2 in November. Their first group stage match against Haiti kicks off at 2am on Sunday, June 14, at the Vistib Stadium in the United States, Canada and Mexico-hosted event.
First Minister Swinney expressed gratitude to the King for approving the proposal, 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.” He encouraged employers to make arrangements for staff to join the celebrations.
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 participate. Of Scotland's 32 local authorities, 27 have opted out, with only Aberdeen City, Dundee City, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire granting the paid day off and closing schools.
Scotland are in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. Their second match against Morocco kicks off at 11pm on Friday, June 19. 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.
