England are just two games away from winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
It would end 60 trophyless years for the men’s team and would immortalise the current squad of players in English football history.
All that remains is the small matter of beating current world champions Argentina and two of the pre-tournament favourites in France and Spain should they reach the final.
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Will there be a bank holiday if England win the 2026 World Cup on Sunday?
If England do manage to reach and win the final, the country will see some of the biggest celebrations it has ever seen and fans of the Three Lions may be looking at Monday morning and wondering if they will make it into work or not.
Talk will of course turn to whether or not there will be a bank holiday should they lift the trophy in New Jersey.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that the possibility of a bank holiday will be considered should England go all the way.
Talking at a NATO summit in Turkey before Thomas Tuchel‘s men beat Norway, Starmer said: “I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”
A potential date has also been earmarked, with Friday, 24 July lined up for celebrations.
Starmer is unlikely to still be in office by the time the decision to grant a bank holiday rolls around after he resigned last month, subject to a new leader of the Labour Party being selected, but preparation for such an event must go ahead despite that.
Andy Burnham, who is likely to replace Starmer at 10 Downing Street, has slightly damped expectations previously, saying “it was a bit premature” to talk of a bank holiday before England’s trip to the Azteca.
Now, with England potentially only 180 minutes away from the moment of a football generation, talk seems far more relevant, and preparations should be well underway.
It won’t be easy though, with Argentina scrapping their way to the semi-final after epic matches against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.
England needs to get past Lionel Messi, who is still producing magical moments aged 39-years-old at quite possibly at his last World Cup. His eight goals at this year’s tournament have seen him become the all-time top goalscorer with 21 goals, flying past Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16.
Should they win the semi-final, they will face France, who have arguably the best attack in the tournament, or Spain, who have arguably the best defence in the tournament.
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