Monday 15 June 2026 is officially a national bank holiday to mark Scotland’s qualification for the men's football World Cup finals in USA, Canada and Mexico.
The approval by Royal Proclamation follows after Scotland qualified in dramatic style with a 4-2 win over Denmark to top the qualifying group on 18th November last year.
Scotland's last qualified for the FIFA World Cup in France in 1998. At that tournament, it was beaten 2-1 by Brazil and 3-0 by Morocco, two teams we're playing again in June. Scotland also tied Norway 1-1.
The 2026 World Cup Holiday was proposed by Scotland's First Minister John Swinney to allow people, businesses and other organisations (like the NHS) in Scotland to celebrate after the team’s opening game against Haiti.
Pubs Open Late
Edinburgh City Council has said it will not be marking the special bank holiday event (it doesn't mark some other Scottish bank holidays either), but it has issued an extension to licensing hours for the duration of the World Cup in June and July.
Edinburgh’s Licensing Board has approved recommendations to allow premises which hold a full premises licence, which includes a provision to show televised sport, to remain open until 30 minutes after the end of any World Cup match.
Scotland’s group stage fixtures are:
- 14 June – Haiti v Scotland – kick-off 0200 GMT in Boston
- 19 June – Scotland v Morocco – kick-off 2300 GMT in Boston
- 24 June – Scotland v Brazil – kick-off 2300 GMT in Miami
As well as celebrating Scotland’s involvement in the World Cup, it's hoped that the extension will benefit the city’s pubs and night time economy.