The UK government has quietly circled Friday, July 24 on the calendar as a potential one-off bank holiday if England somehow pulls off a World Cup win next Sunday. That’s 60 years after the country’s only other title, and the prime minister is being careful not to jinx it.
Sir Keir Starmer dodged a direct question about the holiday during the NATO summit in Ankara this week. But he did leave the door cracked open. “I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final,” the self-described Arsenal fan told reporters Wednesday.
That’s not exactly a yes. But it’s also not a no. And for a country that’s been waiting six decades for another men’s World Cup trophy, the hint alone is enough to get people talking.
Political Pushback and Premature Chatter
Not everyone is on board with the speculation. Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to replace Starmer as Labour leader, called the bank holiday talk “a bit premature” after England’s messy win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mayor and Everton supporter told LBC’s Andrew Marr that he doesn’t back anything when it comes to football. Not even England.
The bank holiday idea isn’t new. Fans floated the same thing last year when the Lionesses won the Euros. That celebration ended up being an open-top bus parade through central London and a visit to Downing Street instead of a day off. So history suggests no guarantees.
What’s at Stake This Weekend
England faces Norway in the quarterfinals on Saturday. That means Harry Kane going head to head with Erling Haaland, which is basically a battle between two of the best strikers on the planet. It’s also a serious test for England’s defense, which has looked shaky at times.
The Three Lions are coming off a wild 3-2 win over Mexico on Monday. Jude Bellingham scored twice in two minutes at the Azteca Stadium, becoming the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to pull off that feat there. The win came despite Jarell Quansah getting a red card in the 54th minute, forcing England to play a man down for more than half the game.
Starmer called that Mexico performance “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen.” Fair or not, it sets the bar high for the Norway match.
The Red Card Drama the PM Won’t Touch
Quansah’s red card has become a political talking point, but Starmer isn’t biting. After Donald Trump reportedly persuaded FIFA to suspend U.S. player Folarin Balogun’s suspension so he could play against Belgium, some fans wanted the PM to do the same for Quansah. Starmer said he’s gotten countless messages about it but isn’t getting involved. “I hasten to add, I haven’t attempted to do that,” he said.
Starmer did get involved behind the scenes when FIFA tried to move the England-Mexico kickoff time. His office confirmed he supported the FA’s pushback on the scheduling change. The final call stayed with FIFA.
For now, England has to get past Norway before anyone can seriously start planning that July 24 party. But the date is set. And the hope is real.
Leave a Comment