The biggest World Cup in history begins this week, with 48 teams and 104 games across the United States, Canada and Mexico – and for the first time, Scotland will have a one-off bank holiday during the group stages, while England fans wait to learn if they will get one too.
Mexico, one of the three co-hosts, kick off the tournament against South Africa at the Azteca on June 11, while England begin their campaign against Croatia on June 17. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, offering a month of football that will be broadcast free-to-air on the BBC and ITV in the UK.
“World Cup 2026 kicks off with 48 teams and 104 games; Scotland gets a bank holiday but England's fate unclear.”
The Guardian has launched an interactive bracketology tool allowing fans to predict a path to victory, clicking through the group stage and knockouts to crown their champion. For those watching at home, the Mirror has recommended five 4K smart TVs ideal for the tournament, including a 55-inch LG QNED70 MiniLED model that can be subscribed to from £19.85 per month through Raylo. One LG customer described it as providing “a high-end home theatre experience”, adding: “Colours are vibrant and rich, blacks look deep, and the brightness makes everything pop beautifully.”
England’s final warm-up friendly is approaching, and the question of whether a bank holiday would be granted if England wins the World Cup remains unanswered – Scotland already has a one-off bank holiday scheduled during the group stages, but no such announcement has been made for England.