Scotland gets World Cup bank holiday but England fans left waiting

Scotland will get a one-off bank holiday during the group stages of the World Cup, but fans in England are still waiting to hear whether they will get a day off if the national team wins the tournament. The Scottish government has confirmed the standalone holiday, which will fall while the men's side compete in the opening rounds of the 2026 World Cup. No such announcement has been made for England, however, despite growing calls from supporters and some politicians for a day of celebration should Gareth Southgate's side bring the trophy home. The World Cup kicks off in Mexico City with a star-studded opening ceremony featuring Shakira and Burna Boy, before co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a match that saw three red cards. Scotland's group-stage fixtures have yet to be confirmed, but the extra day off is intended to allow fans to watch the games and support the team. For England, the situation remains unclear. The last time the men's team reached a World Cup final, in 1966, there was no automatic bank holiday; instead, the government at the time left it to individual employers to decide. With the tournament now under way, the pressure is mounting on Downing Street to make a decision. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said only that the matter was "under consideration", but gave no timeline. Meanwhile, the Scottish government has already legislated for the holiday, meaning workers north of the border will have a guaranteed day off regardless of how far the team progresses. For now, English fans can only watch and wait – and hope their players go all the way.