Potential bank holiday in England if the Three Lions win the World Cup
An extra bank holiday is likely heading England’s way if the Three Lions win the World Cup on July 19 and “bring it home” for the first time since 1966, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister indicated on a visit to Ankara, Turkey, that he is optimistic about the outcome. “Let’s see what happens if we get there,” he stated, while hesitating to commit firmly to a bank holiday. “But on the question of a bank holiday, I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”
Government officials have suggested that there is a strong chance the outgoing prime minister will approve a national day off to celebrate the potential victory. The most likely date for this bank holiday would be Friday, July 24 — exactly one week after the final, which will take place in New Jersey.
Following England’s thrilling 3-2 victory against Mexico on Monday night, Sir Keir Starmer praised the team’s performance. “I thought we were fantastic the other night against Mexico, absolutely. I mean, one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen,” he remarked. Starmer applauded the squad’s strength and resilience throughout the match, expressing confidence as they now prepare for a quarter-final clash against Norway, featuring Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, this Saturday in Miami.
Starmer attended a bilateral meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre shortly after arriving in the United States. The two leaders sported football shirts representing their respective nations and discussed the strong relationship between the UK and Norway. “The Norway-UK relationship is as strong as it’s ever been, and he’s a key individual in the coalitions that we’ve been building,” Starmer stated.
The prospect of a national holiday, however, has been complicated by the economic implications. While leaders typically hesitate to declare bank holidays due to an estimated £2.4 billion impact on the economy, the surge in spending in pubs and venues during matches could offset some of this cost. Celebrations during World Cup match days have reportedly boosted pub revenue by 90 percent compared to normal days.
It is worth noting that Starmer did not announce a bank holiday when the Lionesses triumphed in the Euros last year, whereas Scotland designated June 15 as a holiday following the team’s opening match against Haiti. If a holiday were declared, it would coincide with Starmer’s last full day in office, as he is set to step down the following day with Andy Burnham poised to take over as prime minister on July 20.
Such plans remain contingent on the outcome of the tournament, but the enthusiasm surrounding potential celebrations highlights the unique intersection of sport and national identity in modern Britain.
