No Bank Holiday for England fans despite Mexico World Cup last-16 tie

England fans hoping for a lie-in after Monday’s 1am World Cup last-16 clash with Mexico will be disappointed, with the Government confirming there will be no Bank Holiday to mark the occasion, whatever the result.

Thomas Tuchel’s side booked their place in the knockout rounds after Harry Kane’s brace rescued a result against DR Congo, setting up a last-16 meeting with co-hosts Mexico. With kick-off falling in the small hours of Monday morning UK time, speculation has grown over whether workers and schoolchildren might be given the day off to recover.

Government rules out extra day off

Despite the awkward timing, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has made clear that “the current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established,” effectively closing the door on any additional day off for now. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said pupils should still attend school as normal on Monday.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed has instead urged local councils to consider extending licensing hours so pubs and bars can legally stay open to show the match. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the move, saying: “Football might be coming home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to. Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.”

The Ministry added that the Government would be “backing the England team all the way,” even if a formal holiday is off the table.

Starmer leaves door open if England go all the way

Pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in France, the Prime Minister stopped short of ruling out a Bank Holiday should England lift the World Cup trophy this summer. Asked directly, he replied: “I’m not going to jinx the World Cup. But, you know, the last time we won the World Cup, it was a Labour government. And so it’s absolutely clear that we only win World Cups under a Labour government. So let’s hope that this is the next opportunity.”

Scotland, by contrast, has already handed its fans a bonus day off during this tournament. The Scottish Government announced an additional Bank Holiday on Monday, 15 June, to mark Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in decades.

No precedent from the Lionesses either

England’s women were not granted a Bank Holiday after winning the Euros for the first time in 2022. Starmer, then Leader of the Opposition, had called for a “proper day of celebration” if the Lionesses went on to win the 2023 World Cup, posting at the time: “There should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home.”

That side reached the final but lost 1-0 to Spain, and no holiday materialised. Even after England’s women won the Euros again in 2025, the Government did not introduce a Bank Holiday to mark the achievement.

Read more: Mexican government ‘behind England kick-off chaos’ as fans lay siege to hotel