England are through to the last-16 of the 2026 World Cup – but their clash against Mexico will not kick-off until 1am UK time.That poses a unique challenge for the nation, with schools and workplaces likely to be affected, and there is no guidance yet on whether pubs will be permitted to remain open to show the match or if there will be a bank holiday as a result.
Following the dramatic 2-1 win over DR Congo in the previous round, Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel called for families to put football before school on Monday.
“Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. Come on,” he said. “There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch.”There will be a big, big match on in four days and we need the support of everyone, and especially of the children.”
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Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to allow their kids to stay up and watch England’s clash with Mexico at 1am on Monday.
However, it does not look like the government is currently planning a bank holiday. On Thursday, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said watching the match did not necessarily mean children need to miss school.
“It’s a late game, but children can be in school the next day,” she told the Press Association.
Asked if she believed children can both watch the game and still make it into school, she said: “I think they can, yes, but it’s for parents to decide how they manage this, and it depends on the age of your children, how they feel. But this is about decisions for individual families.”A government spokesperson add they are ‘backing the England team all the way’, but said that ‘the current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established’ – offering little hope of an additional day off.No major World Cup nation appears to have issued national guidance encouraging children to miss school after late-night matches at the 2026 tournament. Responses have largely been left to families, individual schools and local authorities.
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Sky Sports News’…
2026-07-02 16:40:00
