Kerala declares holiday for schools on Monday over FIFA World Cup final

The Kerala General Education Department has declared a holiday on Monday for all schools under its jurisdiction to allow students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, officials said on Sunday.

The decision was taken after numerous requests from football-loving students who wanted to stay up late to watch the summit clash between Argentina and Spain, scheduled to begin after midnight on Sunday.

The holiday will apply to all schools functioning under the General Education Department, according to an official statement.

General Education Minister N Samsudheen announced the decision on social media, writing, "Happy now, children?"

"Considering the request of students who are football enthusiasts, the Kerala General Education Department has declared a holiday on Monday (July 20) for all schools under the department in view of the FIFA World Cup final to be played after midnight tonight," the minister said.

Earlier, CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty had urged the state government to declare a holiday, arguing that the late-night final would make it difficult for students to attend classes the next morning.

He also suggested compensating for the lost academic day by declaring a Saturday, usually a holiday, as a working day.

Several leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF) had also supported the demand for a school holiday.

General Education Minister N Samsudheen, Higher Education Minister Roji M John and Sports Minister O J Janeesh, all known football enthusiasts, have been actively sharing messages on social media supporting their favourite teams throughout the FIFA World Cup.