New Bank Holiday to mark Scotland's World Cup place as First Minister John Swinney hails the achievement
National team will take part in the finals in USA, Canada and Mexico
First Minister John Swinney has proposed an extra public holiday to mark Scotland’s World Cup participation this year. The national team reached the finals for the first time since 1998 by beating Denmark 4-2 in November to finish top of their qualifying group. They will now take part in the World Cup this summer, which is being staged by USA, Canada and Mexico.
Swinney wants to honour the historic achievement by giving the country a day off. Scotland’s opening World Cup match is against Haiti at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachussets, on Saturday, 13 June. Swinney wants a Bank Holiday on Monday, 15 June, to allow Scots to celebrate seeing their country take part in the greatest show on earth.
The First Minister said: “Scotland qualifying for the men’s World Cup was a remarkable achievement and a landmark moment, and the reaction to the dramatic win against Denmark reminded us all what football means to the country. This year, we want to make the most of this huge opportunity for Scotland and ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to celebrate the team’s success.
“Not only is this an historic sporting event, it’s also a chance for Scotland to be on the world stage, to attract business development, create tourism interest within the country and to make cultural and sporting connections. That is why I am taking steps to ensure the Monday after our opening game should be national bank holiday, so that - no matter the outcome of the match - we can all come together to share the occasion.”
After taking on Haiti, Scotland play Morocco on Friday, 19 June, also in Foxborough. Their final group match takes place in Miami against Brazil on Wednesday, 24 June. Results from those three fixtures will determine whether the Scots can progress to the tournament’s knockout phase for the first time in history.
National coach Steve Clarke achieved personal history by guiding Scotland to the top of Group C with that dramatic win over the Danes at Hampden Park. He is now the only man to have led the country to three major tournaments after previously qualifying for Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. He will remain in charge for the World Cup and then decide his future with his contract due to expire this summer.
Clarke spoke last year about his plans and admitted he was edging towards an exit from the Scotland job after the World Cup. “I'll go on percentage - 75 per cent,” he said. “That's something that I haven't spoken to my bosses about. I said before the September camp last year that I'm going to run my contract down and then we'll see what happens.
“If we have a fantastic year and get to the World Cup and do well at the World Cup, maybe somebody will persuade me to stay. But at this moment in time, I'm happy to run my contract down. I want to go to America, that's the bottom line. I want to help this group of players to get to the World Cup in America. I've still got 10 big games this year to determine my future moving forward. Whether I stay here or whether I go somewhere else, the next year can determine my future.”