Plans for the bank holiday on Monday 20 July will not be made if England win the World Cup, according to the latest official government information. England fans will be left dreaming of football returning home as Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions look forward to a brief encounter with Mexico on Monday. This could secure a place in the quarter-finals and move them one step closer to the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday 19 July.
Of course, the match against Mexico will be a tough test and will not be an easy match. The Round of 16 knockout game is currently scheduled to be held at 1am UK time on Monday, despite a back-and-forth situation regarding kick-off due to forecasts of stormy weather. The Government confirmed to the Express that there are currently no plans for a bank holiday on Monday to support the second half, and that the game could end at the latest at 3.30am if penalties go ahead.
But based on the latest information from the Government, there will also be no bank holiday on Monday, July 20, if England do the impossible and end 60 years of hurt by winning the tournament.
The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government assured the Express that the government had its “full support for the England team”, but when asked if there were any plans for a new public holiday on Monday, July 20, it added: “The current pattern of banking and public holidays is well established.”
The ministry added that it did not want to “run the risk of tempting fate”. That way, the door may be ajar for a change of heart as the big day approaches.
This comes after the government told the Express there would be no change to pub opening hours for the Mexico game, stressing that approval of applications for late opening this Monday would be up to local authorities. But the next day, emergency legislation was announced by Sir Keir Starmer to allow pubs to stay open until 5am.
Sir Keir last month rejected plans for a new bank holiday should England win the World Cup, which would take place on Monday June 20, the day after the June 19 final.
As leaders gathered for the G7 summit in France, the Prime Minister was asked whether he would declare a new bank holiday if England lifted the trophy.
Scotland is already enjoying an extra bank holiday in the lead-up to this World Cup, after the Scottish Government introduced an extra bank holiday on Monday 15 June to celebrate the start of the Scottish national team’s first World Cup campaign in decades.
Asked in a press conference if there would be a day to celebrate England’s potential victory in the tournament, Sir Keir told reporters he did not want to “jinx” it, but stressed that England’s last victory, a famous victory over West Germany in 1966, also came under a Labor government.
He also hinted that a new bank holiday for England could be on the table, but refused to rule it out or make a decision.
“We’re not going to jinx the World Cup,” Sir Keir said.
“But, as you know, the last time we won the World Cup it was a Labor government.
“It is therefore perfectly clear that we can only win the World Cup under a Labor government.
“Then let’s hope this is the next time.”
Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham said speculation about a public holiday if England won the World Cup “may be a bit premature”.
If Mr Burnham remains a candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer, he could be sworn in as Prime Minister as early as July 20.
The World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, on Sunday 19th July at 8pm UK time.
If no other candidates come forward, the former Greater Manchester mayor is expected to be formally appointed as Labor leader at a special meeting on July 17, the day after nominations close.
However, it is understood that he will not become prime minister immediately and the formal handover will take place the next working day, July 20, in line with the party’s previous practice.
Makerfield told LBC the England international “needs to improve a bit before we start seriously dreaming of returning home”.
Asked by Andrew Marr about England’s performance in Wednesday’s win, the Everton fan said: “I would say we have struggled, and with all due respect to the Democratic Republic of Congo, we may be getting ahead of ourselves.”
“We have a very big game coming up on Sunday. We have to live with hope. I think it might be a little premature to speculate.”
“It’s going to be a great moment, we can all hope and pray for it.
“I’m an Evertonian. I don’t stand for anything when it comes to football. I don’t stand for England either.”
There was no bank holiday in place in 2022, when England women lifted the Euro trophy for the first time, but Sir Keir was the leader of the opposition at the time, calling for an extra bank holiday if the Lionesses won the 2023 World Cup.
At the time he supported calls for a bank holiday. He called the idea “a proper day of celebration.”
When the England women’s team reached the 2023 World Cup final, he tweeted: “If the Lionesses take home there will be a celebration break.”
Unfortunately, however, the Lionesses were unable to win the World Cup, losing to Spain 1-0 in the final. However, although they lifted the Euro 2025 trophy last summer, the Labor government did not announce a Euro 2025 bank holiday.
