PM Keir Starmer Responds to Calls for Bank Holiday if England Win Major Trophy
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has responded to suggestions the UK should get an extra bank holiday if England win Euro 2028, at the official launch for the tournament.
The next edition of European football's greatest international competition will be jointly hosted by the United Kingdom and Ireland, with England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland all hosting matches.
The official launch event for the tournament took place at No 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham and England international Tyrone Mings among those in attendance.
England will be hopeful of victory on home soil in 2028, having come agonisingly close to silverware at the last two Euros.
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Gareth Southgate's side lost on penalties to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley, before being beaten 2-1 by Spain in the final of Euro 2024 in Germany – in what would turn out to be Southgate’s final match in charge.
Despite those disappointments, the PM is confident England can go one better and lift the trophy in 2028.
Speaking to SPORTbible at the launch event, he said: "I want a team to go all the way and win it, and I want that team to be England.
"I'm afraid I've watched a lot of England games in my time from the stands, and I've been to a number of those finals, particularly recently, and then we haven't quite got there.
"And I want us to go all the way and win it."
He also refused to rule out a potential bank holiday if England won the next World Cup or Euros but said it was too early to make such a decision, adding: "As for the bank holiday, I wouldn't want to tempt fate by saying anything about what would happen."
The PM, a well-known Arsenal fan, was keen to point out the wider economic benefits to the UK and Ireland of hosting the Euros and believes the tournament will encourage the next generation to take up the sport.
"Euro 2028 will be the biggest sporting event ever jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland and, as a lifelong football fan, I know how much international competitions like this matter," he added.
"This tournament will bring fans from across Europe to iconic footballing cities like Birmingham and Glasgow, inspire the next generation to lace up their boots, and deliver billions in economic benefits."
UEFA has now confirmed the full match schedule for the tournament, with the opening game taking place at the National Stadium of Wales, Cardiff, on June 9, 2028.
The final will be held at Wembley, the same venue as the Euro 2020 final, on July 9, 2028.
Meanwhile, Belfast in Northern Ireland has been confirmed as the host for the 2028 qualifying draw on December 6, 2026.
Will there be an extra bank holiday if England win?
As the PM has stated, it's too early to know for certain. But if recent tournament wins are anything to go by, it's unlikely.
Former PM Rishi Sunak's Conservative government opted not to grant the UK an extra bank holiday when the England Lionesses won Euro 2022 on home soil.
The government at the time said the cost of a bank holiday was "considerable" and that the victory would be celebrated in other ways.
There was also no extra bank holiday after Sarina Wiegman's side defended their European crowd at the 2025 tournament earlier this year.
They did, however, hold a memorable open-top bus parade and victory ceremony outside Buckingham Palace instead.
Rory O'Callaghan