Keir Starmer hints at bank holiday if England win World Cup

Keir Starmer has hinted there could be a bank holiday, should England win the 2026 World Cup <i>(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)</i>
Keir Starmer has hinted there could be a bank holiday, should England win the 2026 World Cup (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
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Sir Keir Starmer has suggested there could be a bank holiday if England win the World Cup.

The Prime Minister made the comment as excitement builds ahead of England’s quarter-final clash with Norway.

England will play on Saturday, July 11, with Thomas Tuchel's team now just three wins away from lifting the World Cup.

Starmer said: "On the question of a bank holiday, I think I don't want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final."

England would need to get through the quarter-final, semi-final, and final before any celebration of that scale could become a reality.

The World Cup final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 19.

It is widely expected that Starmer will step down as Prime Minister the day after, to be replaced by Andy Burnham.

Should England make the final, it would be likely that Starmer would go to the game, which could briefly delay the handover of power.

It is understood that the extra bank holiday would be on the Friday following England's triumph on July 24.

Should there be a bank holiday if England win the World Cup?

While this is still a hypothetical scenario, the topic of a bank holiday being added on if England wins the World Cup has caused a bit of debate.

Programmes like Good Morning Britain discussed the concept this morning (Thursday, July 9), with there being mixed opinions.

In a post on X asking viewers what their thoughts were, a few were against the idea.

One said: "Will mean nothing for the average worker, shop workers, NHS and factory workers and hospitality etc will still need to go to work, will be fine for corporate jobs."

Another posted: "This is a joke bank holiday if England win.

"Their is not bank holiday when the queen died.

"This country is a joke."

Not everyone felt the same as another wrote: "Given Scotland got a Monday Bank Holiday for a game against the massive football legends of Haiti which took place 24 hours earlier on SUNDAY .. yeah I think we should !!!"

However, in reply, one person pointed out: "In Scotland, only a few local authorities gave their employees a public holiday, the vast majority didnt and it was work as normal."

Elsewhere on X, another said: "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Sir Keir!

"We’ve got Erling Haaland and Norway to get past in the quarter-finals this weekend first.

"One game at a time, let's not jinx it!"

Do you think there should be a bank holiday if England win the World Cup? Let us know in the comments or the poll above.

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