Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that children must attend school on Monday morning, pushing back against a plea from England manager Thomas Tuchel for parents to let youngsters bunk off to watch the World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico. The game kicks off at 1am UK time and could run until 3am or later if extra time and penalties are needed.
Speaking after England’s 2-1 comeback victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuchel urged parents to “write an excuse for school and let them watch football”. He argued that “school can always be attended later, but the World Cup comes once every four years” and said children’s support was vital for the team.
Starmer’s official position was made clear by a Downing Street spokesperson, who said: “It is up to parents to make their own decisions. We want everyone to enjoy the game but children should be at school on Monday.” The spokesperson acknowledged that the Prime Minister himself faced the same dilemma as millions of other fans about whether to stay up, adding that skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith had “put it very well” with her suggestion of a “disco nap” on Sunday afternoon before returning to work as usual the next day.
Tuchel’s call for leniency was direct. “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football,” he said. “They have so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch – there will be a big, big match in four days and we need the support of everyone and especially of the children.”
The conflicting messages have prompted a range of reactions from parents. The babysitting app Bubble reported a 50% rise in Monday morning bookings, suggesting that many adults are choosing late-night viewing over the school run. At the same time, a campaign by England fans for an emergency bank holiday on Monday has been rejected by the government. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said ministers were “backing the England team all the way” but added that “the current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established”. Local authorities have been encouraged to consider special applications for extended pub opening hours to broadcast the match, though licensing hours have not been universally extended.
Baroness Smith, speaking to LBC, stressed that she did not want to be a “killjoy” but warned that young people risked missing out on important learning if they followed Tuchel’s lead. “I don’t want to be a killjoy, but I’ll tell you what the biggest killjoy is – young people who don’t have the learning to be able to go on and do what they need to do in life,” she said. She added that she would be watching the match herself after a “little disco nap” and would celebrate England’s victory at work the next morning, “looking obviously as fresh as a daisy”. She also suggested flexible starts to the school day might be appropriate.
The match will be played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the same venue where Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England 40 years ago during the 1986 World Cup. England’s preparations are further complicated by the stadium’s altitude of 2,200 metres, which Tuchel acknowledged as a significant disadvantage because the squad cannot physically adapt in the four days between matches. He nevertheless expressed confidence in the team’s ability to overcome the obstacle, drawing parallels with their comeback win against DR Congo – only the second time England has won a World Cup match after conceding the opening goal, following the 1966 final.
If England goes on to win the tournament on Sunday 19 July, there is a possibility of an additional bank holiday. An Early Day Motion has been submitted calling for a holiday on Monday 20 July. Starmer has previously teased that such a day could happen but said he did not want to “jinx” the tournament by announcing it ahead of time. Notably, 20 July is also the date on which Andy Burnham is likely to take office as the next Labour leader, if he is confirmed as widely expected. Nominations for the leadership open on 9 July, with hustings on 13 July and a potential confirmation on 17 July if only one candidate emerges, following Starmer’s resignation as Labour leader and Prime Minister on 22 June.
