King Charles has granted Scotland fans a one-off Bank Holiday ahead of their World Cup 2026 opener, setting a precedent that could have significant consequences for England's own tournament journey.

Scotland face Haiti on June 14 at Gillette Stadium, near Boston, with a local kick-off time of 9PM — meaning viewers back home will be watching past 2AM. First Minister John Swinney put forward the Bank Holiday proposal to ensure Tartan Army supporters could follow their nation's first World Cup appearance since 1998 without paying a professional price the following morning.

Provided employers honour the arrangement, Scotland fans are free to stay up for the late-night clash against Haiti with no workplace repercussions. The decision did attract some mild criticism — Scotland play on a Saturday night, and the Bank Holiday falls on the Monday — but that backlash has been largely muted.

England's potential path to a bank holiday

England supporters have never been awarded a Bank Holiday for World Cup football. However, the King's decision for Scotland raises the question of whether Three Lions fans could receive the same treatment.

Should England top Group L, their first knockout fixture would likely kick off at 1AM BST in Mexico City — a time that rivals Scotland's late-night start. With a precedent now firmly established, the possibility of a World Cup Bank Holiday for England fans is more credible than it has ever been.

Any further Bank Holiday decision would, of course, hinge on England's progress. A first-round exit would make the matter irrelevant — but continued success in the tournament would put growing pressure on the authorities to act.

England begin their Group L campaign against Croatia on June 17 at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kick-off is scheduled for 9PM BST — an altogether more sociable hour, and one that requires no special dispensation for now.