The 2026 World Cup has been nothing short of nail-biting for England fans thus far – and not just because of the matches.
From the government’s U-turn on allowing pubs to open late, to stormy weather threatening to delay games already starting in the early hours, those following the Three Lions have been on a veritable emotional rollercoaster already.
And school pupils are no exception.
Politicians, parents and even the people standing by the pitch have weighed in on whether youngsters should be allowed to start school late after England’s decider match against Mexico, kicking off at 1am on Monday.
Manager Thomas Tuchel even called on parents to let their kids bunk off so they can stay up late to watch their heroes play.
He said: ‘Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. They have so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years.
‘Let them watch, there will be a big, big match in four days and we need the support of everyone and especially of the children.’
Some schools have even decided to let their pupils come in late following the game, expected to wrap up around 3am.
Some of the schools opening late include:
- Purwell Primary School (Hitchin, Hertfordshire) – registers will be open until 10.30am.
- Castle Hill Primary School (Basingstoke, Hampshire) – students can arrive from 9.30am.
- Greenland Primary School (County Durham) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.
- Bloemfontein Primary School (County Durham) – registers will be open until 10am.
- Burnhope Primary School (County Durham) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.
- Berwick Hills Primary School (Middlesbrough) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.
Meanwhile other schools, including Malmesbury Primary School in Wiltshire, will be opening earlier to screen a recording of the match. They’re even serving breakfast to pupils.
The National Education Union (NEU) has supported the plans to let pupils start later, with general secretary Daniel Kebede describing the match as an ‘important event in our calendar’.
Adults also have cause to celebrate ahead of the match, with pubs able to remain open until 5am.
But many have said they won’t be adopting the new opening hours and will shut before kick-off.
This includes all Wetherspoons branches bar five.
Tommy Higgs, co-owner of The Three Horseshoes pub in Witney, Oxfordshire, said they would not be opening for the England match.
Speaking to LBC, he said: ‘We’re in a built-up community around here, and I think it’s just a little bit disrespectful for our locals to have that sort of noise at 5am.
‘No one’s going to want to work until five in the morning. We’re not a nightclub, we’re a local pub in a small town, and I am not allowed to annoy my neighbours because I’ll be into holy hell with that.’
Grown-up fans were dealt another blow after the government ruled out giving workers another bank holiday to sleep off hangovers after the match.