UK plans July 24 bank holiday if England wins World Cup
Why it matters: Officials see a one-off day off as politically manageable despite past estimates of a £2.4 billion economic hit.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing a one-off bank holiday for England if the men’s team wins the World Cup, with July 24 the likely date. England plays Norway in the quarterfinals on July 11, and the final is set for July 19 in New Jersey. The timing would give Thomas Tuchel’s squad time to return and allow the Football Association to organize a possible open-top bus parade in central London. Starmer, speaking at the NATO summit in Turkey, stopped short of formally committing to the move but indicated he was open to it. The proposal lands as Labour prepares a leadership handover to Andy Burnham, who is expected to become prime minister on July 20.