King Charles III approved an extra bank holiday in Scotland to mark the team's participation in the 2026 World Cup, the men's team's first appearance since 1998. The measure, proposed by Scottish Prime Minister John Swinney, establishes Monday, June 15, 2026, as a national holiday in Scotland, allowing fans and institutions to celebrate after the opening game with Haiti.
The Royal Proclamation has now been validated by Her Majesty, following Scotland's qualification in November thanks to a victory over Denmark. The Scots' first World Cup game is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, at 2am (Lisbon time), in Boston, against Haiti.
John Swinney expressed himself “grateful” to the King for the approval, highlighting the importance of giving people the opportunity to “come together and celebrate” a historic moment for Scottish football, almost three decades after the last appearance in the final stages of a World Cup. The Scottish government leader also encouraged employers to collaborate with workers to facilitate participation in the celebrations.
Although the holiday was only approved for Scotland, the UK Parliament tabled a motion that allows a holiday in England on Monday, July 20, 2026 — but only if the English team wins the World Cup. The text of the motion considers that an eventual achievement would be a “rare national moment” capable of uniting families and communities across the country.
The England team begins its campaign on June 17th, against Croatia, at 9pm (Lisbon time).