Bank holiday mooted if England win World Cup, Friday, July 24 favoured date | OneFootball

Ministers are weighing an extra bank holiday if England win the FIFA World Cup this month, with Friday, July 24 viewed as the leading option.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the day off would fall five days after the final and would depend entirely on the Three Lions lifting the trophy.

England face Argentina in Wednesday's semi-final after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Norway. If Thomas Tuchel's side progress, they will meet either Spain or tournament favourites France in Sunday's final.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated a celebratory bank holiday could be considered if England are crowned, saying at last week's Nato summit he did not want to jinx it and would revisit the question if they reached the final.

Andy Burnham, expected to succeed Sir Keir as Prime Minister on Monday, July 20, struck a more cautious note earlier this month, stressing he avoids bold football predictions and believes England still have improvements to make before serious talk of it coming home.

It is unclear whether any additional bank holiday would apply only in England or across the UK, given the four nations set their own public holidays. Scotland has already had a national day off after qualifying for its first World Cup since 1998.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has suggested she would be unlikely to back an extra bank holiday, arguing the private sector would still be working while the public sector took the day off.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com