King Charles has given the go-ahead for a new one-off bank holiday on Monday, June 15, but it will only apply to Scotland. The holiday is designed to allow football fans to stay up late and watch Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti, which kicks off at 2am BST on Sunday, June 14.
Scotland's World Cup Return
Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time in almost 30 years after beating Denmark 4-2 in November. The tournament is being hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, leading to early morning kick-off times for UK viewers.
First Minister's Announcement
First Minister John Swinney announced the bank holiday, saying: "Scotland will be on the world stage this summer and I want as many people as possible to be able to celebrate that moment. Football means a great deal to many people in this country and it has been almost three decades since our men's national team played at the World Cup finals tournament."
He added: "We want to make the most of Scotland's participation in this global sporting event by ensuring people have the opportunity to come together and celebrate – no matter the outcome of the match. I am very grateful to His Majesty King Charles for approving the proposal and I encourage employers around the country to work with staff to put in place suitable arrangements."
Limited Adoption
The bank holiday guarantees a day off for public sector employees under the Scottish Government, but it is up to individual employers and local authorities to decide whether to follow suit. The majority of Scottish local authorities, 27 out of 32, have officially rejected or opted out of the bank holiday. Only Aberdeen City, Dundee City, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, and South Lanarkshire have granted their staff a paid day off and agreed to shut schools.
Scotland's World Cup Fixtures
Scotland are in Group C, alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Their first match against Haiti is on Sunday, June 14 at 2am BST. Their second clash is against Morocco on Friday, June 19 at 11pm BST. England fans have not been granted a bank holiday for any of their World Cup games. The latest kick-off time for the Three Lions is 10pm in the UK. England's first clash is against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17 at 9pm, followed by Ghana on Tuesday, June 23 at 9pm, and Panama at 10pm on June 27.
