Will we get a Bank Holiday if England win the World Cup? Keir Starmer drops major hint

There will be an extra Bank Holiday if England win the World Cup, Keir Starmer has strongly indicated.

The outgoing Prime Minister hinted at a national day off if Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions end 60 years of hurt by lifting the trophy in North America.

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‘I don’t want to jinx it’

Having come out on top of a 3-2 thriller against Mexico in the last 16, England are preparing to take on Erling Haaland’s Norway in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Starmer described the Mexico win as ‘one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen’ – but he stopped short of absolutely confirming a Bank Holiday in the event of World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.

Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Starmer said: “I don’t want to jinx it… but ask me again [about a Bank Holiday] if we get to the final.”

When would England World Cup Bank Holiday be?

Multiple reports claim there will be a Bank Holiday announced should England lift the trophy.

The final is set to be played on Sunday, July 19. Any Bank Holiday would then take place the Friday following England’s triumph – July 24.

It marked a sharp change in stance from Starmer, who had previously dismissed talk of a Bank Holiday.

The PM, who tendered his resignation last month and is expected to pass the baton to Andy Burnham on July 20, can still announce a national holiday before he officially steps away from No10.

England currently enjoys eight national holidays, but significant events have led to extra ones in the past, such as for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the coronation of King Charles III.

Meanwhile, north of the border, Scotland was granted a special Bank Holiday last month after the national team qualified for their first World Cup in 26 years.

Putting friendship to the test

Starmer, who allowed pubs to stay open until 5am given the late kick-off for England’s clash with Mexico, has joked about his friendship with Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store ahead of this weekend’s crunch encounter.

“I said to Jonas, the Prime Minister of Norway, we’re very strategically aligned. I’m good friends of his.

“The Norway-UK relationship is as strong as it’s ever been and he’s a key individual in the coalitions that we’ve been building.

“But for 90 minutes on Saturday evening, we’ll have to go our different ways as we go into that match…”

England will need to be at their very best again if they’re to get the better of Norway, who sent Brazil crashing out in the last 16 as Haaland scored both goals in a 2-1 victory – moving to seven goals at his first World Cup.

But the Three Lions might be buoyed by reported concerns over sickness in the Norwegian camp.

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And then there were eight

Saturday’s game in Miami kicks off at 10pm BST, with the winners going on to meet Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.

The quarter-finals get underway on Thursday night with two-time world champions France taking on reigning African champions Morocco in Boston.

That’s followed on Friday by the tie between Euro 2024 winners Spain and Belgium in Los Angeles.