Keir Starmer wants children to be up and ready for school on Monday morning, no matter that the England game kicks off at 1am UK time.
After England beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday evening to qualify for the next round of the World Cup, head coach Thomas Tuchel urged parents to let their kids skip school so they could stay up and watch the match against Mexico. The game could run until at least 3am.
Tuchel said: “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. They have plenty of school ahead of them, but the World Cup only comes every four years. Let them watch. There’s a huge match in four days, and we need everyone’s support, especially the children’s.”
But Starmer disagrees. When asked if children should stay up to watch the game, his spokesperson said: “It’s up to parents to decide. We want everyone to enjoy the match, but children should be in school on Monday.”
The spokesperson added: “Education minister Jacqui Smith put it well. She’s planning a disco nap on Sunday and then back to work the next day. The prime minister faces the same dilemma as everyone else about whether to stay up.”
England will play at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City, where Diego Maradona scored his “Hand of God” goal against England 40 years ago in the 1986 World Cup.
Jacqui Smith said she didn’t want to be a killjoy, but learning was important. The babysitting app Bubble reported a 50% increase in Monday morning bookings, as parents seem to be choosing late-night football over the school run.
Smith suggested young people would miss out on important learning if they followed Tuchel’s advice and wrote excuses to schools. She told LBC’s Nick Ferrari: “I don’t want to be a killjoy, but the biggest killjoy is young people not having the learning they need to succeed in life. I understand if people want to watch the match, including young people. I will be watching. I’ll have a little disco nap in the afternoon and celebrate our victory the next morning when I go to work, looking fresh as a daisy.”
England fans have been calling for an emergency bank holiday on Monday so people can watch the game without worrying about work. But a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that while they “back the England team all the way, the current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established.”
However, there could be a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup. Starmer previously hinted that an extra bank holiday might happen on 20 July, but said he didn’t want to “jinx” the tournament by announcing it early. If Andy Burnham becomes the next Labour leader, as widely expected, he would likely take office on 20 July.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the scenario you described written in a natural tone with clear direct answers
General Background Questions
Q Did Keir Starmer really tell Thomas Tuchel that kids cant skip school for a 1am match
A Yes According to reports the Prime Minister rejected a request from England manager Thomas Tuchel to allow children to take the next day off school after a latenight match against Mexico that ended around 1am
Q Why did Tuchel want kids to skip school
A He reportedly wanted to encourage families to stay up and watch the full match live without worrying about school the next morning The idea was to boost national engagement with the team
Q What was the main reason Starmer said no
A The official reason is that the government believes children should be in school every day unless they are genuinely ill They didnt want to set a precedent that missing school for a latenight football match is acceptable
Practical Impact Questions
Q So are parents going to get in trouble if they let their kids stay up and miss school
A The government hasnt said they will fine parents but the official advice is that its not allowed If a child misses school without a valid reason it could be recorded as an unauthorized absence which can lead to fines in some areas
Q What time would the match end if it kicks off at 1am
A A 1am kickoff means the match would finish around 3am UK time The request was to let kids skip the following school day not just stay up late
Q Is this a common thing Do prime ministers usually get involved in football match scheduling
A No its very unusual Normally the FA and broadcasters decide kickoff times This story is notable because its a rare example of a Prime Minister publicly rejecting a specific request from a national team manager
Q What about other latenight events like the World Cup or Olympics Do kids get time off then
