Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has said he plans to put forward Monday 15th June 2026 as an extra bank holiday, giving the country a chance to celebrate Scotland qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

The proposal still needs formal approval from the King, but the idea is to recognise Scotland’s opening match of the 2026 tournament. The team will face Haiti in Boston at 2am on Sunday 14 June UK time, making the following Monday a natural day for people to mark the occasion.

Swinney said the country is likely to “come to a standstill” once the tournament gets going, especially if Scotland make it past the group stages. He described it as a moment nearly three decades in the making and said he wants as many people as possible to be part of it.

He also pointed to the wider benefits beyond football, including the chance to boost tourism, hospitality and international business interest, as well as strengthening cultural and sporting ties. If approved, the extra day off would bring Scotland’s total bank holidays in 2026 to ten rather than the usual nine.

England and Wales would remain at their standard eight. It’s worth remembering that bank holidays don’t automatically guarantee a day off work. Whether employees get the day depends on the wording in their contracts. Some employers may still choose to offer it as paid leave even if there’s no strict entitlement written in.