'Share the occasion' | Scottish World Cup bank holiday: what it means for UK employers

Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has announced plans for a new national bank holiday on Monday 15 June 2026 to mark the men’s team playing in the FIFA World Cup, their first appearance at the tournament since 1998. 

The holiday is intended to follow Scotland’s opening match against Haiti, scheduled for the early hours of Sunday 14 June. The proposal will be formalised through a Royal Proclamation by King Charles under powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

The move reflects the cultural and economic significance the Scottish Government places on the tournament. Swinney said qualifying was a “remarkable achievement and a landmark moment”, and insisted the day would allow people across Scotland “to share the occasion” and help boost tourism, business development and Scotland’s global profile.

For many employers across the UK, this announcement raises immediate practical questions: who gets the day off, what contractual obligations apply, and how should employers plan around a one-off public holiday that applies only in one nation of the UK?