Scotland’s first minister has proposed a national bank holiday to mark the men’s football team playing in its first World Cup since 1998.
Scotland’s opening game is against Haiti in Boston, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 2am UK time on Sunday 14 June.
John Swinney has proposed that Monday 15 June be designated a national bank holiday in celebration.
The first minister said 2026 is “shaping up to be a very exciting year” for Scotland – with the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow and the men’s national football team securing their spot in the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Mr Swinney said: “The whole nation will come to a standstill in June. Even more so in July once we’ve seen off Brazil and progressed to the knockout stages.
“This is a moment 28 years in the waiting – and I want as many people as possible to share the occasion.
“So, friends, I can confirm today that I have written to the Privy Council, proposing that the Monday – the day after our opening game – be designated a bank holiday in Scotland.
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“That will mean that supporters across the country can watch our men’s team in their first World Cup match for almost 30 years and share in the chance for Scotland to be on the world stage, to attract business development, to create tourism and hospitality interest within the country, and to make deep and lasting cultural and sporting connections.”
The proposal will be formally confirmed once rubberstamped by the King.
Mr Swinney made the announcement during his New Year election pitch to voters in Glasgow on Monday morning.
Ahead of the Holyrood election in May, the first minister said the SNP will “offer Scotland hope for a better future”.
He added: “We’ve all been on the doorsteps a lot in recent months. Voters everywhere are telling us the same thing.
“The UK economy is broken. Living standards are flat as a pancake. Far too many people are living in poverty. Far too many people are struggling to make ends meet.
“Energy costs in energy-rich Scotland are scandalously high. These are the fundamental issues holding Scotland back.”
Mr Swinney claimed the UK is “lurching further and further to the right” as he described the language around immigration and asylum “nothing short of disgraceful”.
He added: “In this election, there are those who will seek to obtain power by spreading fear and insecurity. There are those who will seek to divide us.
“And there are those who don’t care about Scotland and instead seek to use the election to further their own interests. Not the SNP.”
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The first minister claimed the best way to support the nation’s NHS, bring down energy bills and make daily life more affordable for people “is for Scotland to become an independent country”.
However, Mr Swinney is yet to reveal a clear plan on how his party intends to deliver Scottish independence if the UK government continues to refuse requests for a second referendum.
Mr Swinney said: “To become independent, we need a referendum that will be recognised by the international community.
“In 2011, Scotland secured a referendum when the SNP won a majority. It worked in 2011 – and it will work in 2026.”
Mr Swinney admitted it was an “ambitious task” as he called for a “fresh start with independence”.
He said: “Let 2026 be a year when we rightly celebrate all that we are – but also imagine what we could be.”
Adding: “Where others try and tell people in Scotland that they can’t, let us demonstrate that we can.”
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During his speech, Mr Swinney also addressed the US raid on Venezuela saying he was “deeply concerned” about the situation.
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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also spoke to supporters on Monday morning.
Mr Sarwar said: “I know the prime minister and the UK Labour government are not popular with the public right now.
“So, I am not running to be Scotland’s first minister in denial of the truth. I am running to be Scotland’s first minister in defiance of it.”
Mr Sarwar said the “SNP have had their chance” but “blew it”.
He took aim at both the SNP and Reform UK, claiming they “both play the politics of fear and blame”.
He said: “The truth is, Nigel Farage does not care about Scotland. He does not understand Scotland, and he does not want to fix Scotland.”
Mr Sarwar added: “I want to build something better here in Scotland. But we must confront the reasons pushing people towards Reform.
“When people feel ignored, when services fail, and when trust drains away, it creates space for those who want to divide us.”
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay is scheduled to give a speech on Monday afternoon.
His pitch is expected to revolve around the cost-of-living crisis.
