School can wait, let children stay up for England vs Mexico, Tuchel says – but Starmer rejects plea

On Monday, July 3, 2026, England faced Mexico in a crucial World Cup match scheduled for 1 am British Summer Time. This unusual early start time created a dilemma for parents and educators alike, particularly regarding whether children should stay up to watch the game or attend school on time. Head coach Thomas Tuchel, responding to the late kickoff, encouraged parents to provide an excuse for their children to stay up and watch the match, emphasizing the rarity of the World Cup and the importance of fan support. His remarks sparked immediate discussions among schools, education officials, and the public.

The match between England and Mexico followed a narrow victory for England over the Democratic Republic of Congo, which had initially threatened to eliminate them from the tournament. This win secured their spot in the Round of 16, setting up a high-stakes encounter against the co-hosts in Mexico City. However, the early start time posed challenges for viewers in Britain, where the game would begin in the early hours of the morning. If the match went into extra time or penalties, it could extend beyond 4 am, making it difficult for many families to balance watching the game with ensuring their children get adequate rest and attend school on time.

Despite Tuchel’s encouragement, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson maintained that students should still attend school on Monday. In an interview with BBC Newsnight, she emphasized that parents should not use the match as an excuse to delay bedtime for their children. She reiterated that while she understood the enthusiasm surrounding the game, children needed to be present in classrooms for their education. Her stance aligned with government guidelines, which stressed that children should be in school on Monday, even though parents could make their own decisions about how to manage the situation.

However, several schools across the UK decided to adjust their schedules in response to Tuchel’s request. Some institutions opted to allow students to arrive later than usual, recognizing the significance of the event for young fans. For instance, Purwell Primary School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, kept its registers open until 10:30 am, giving families a later start. Similarly, Castle Hill Primary School in Basingstoke adjusted its start time to 9:30 am instead of the usual 8:35 am, allowing families to enjoy the match and still ensure sufficient rest for their children.

Other schools took creative approaches to accommodate the event. Elburton Primary School planned to show an 'as-live' screening at 7:40 am, inviting children to arrive early. Meanwhile, Whipton Barton Federation in Exeter encouraged students to wear football kits to school and promised a raffle for World Cup footballs. Schools within the same multi-academy trust in County Durham—Greenland, Bloemfontein, and Burnhope—allowed pupils to arrive anytime before 10 am without being marked as late. These adjustments reflected a broader understanding among educators that the World Cup holds special significance for young people and that flexibility might be necessary in such circumstances.

The debate over balancing educational responsibilities with national sporting events has long existed, but the unique scheduling of this particular match introduced new complexities. While some officials, like Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, cautioned against sacrificing learning opportunities, others, such as the National Education Union’s Daniel Kebede, advocated for a more flexible approach. Kebede suggested that recognizing the importance of such events in the national calendar could benefit both students and the overall community spirit.

As the match approached, the focus remained on ensuring that children could participate in the event without compromising their schooling. Schools across the country continued to explore ways to accommodate the situation, reflecting a blend of official guidance and local discretion. With the game set to take place in Mexico City, the outcome would not only determine England’s progress in the tournament but also highlight the broader societal considerations surrounding youth engagement in major sporting events.