The Kerala Public Education Department on Sunday declared a holiday for all schools under its jurisdiction on Monday to allow students to watch the FIFA World Cup final.
The decision came after football-loving students requested time off so they could stay up late to watch the title match on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.
This holiday will be celebrated in all schools operating under the Department of Public Education.
Minister of Public Education N. Samsudin posted the decision on social media with a message addressed to students: “Are you happy now, children?”
The minister said in his post that the holiday was declared after football-loving students requested a day off to watch the FIFA World Cup final, which kicks off after midnight on Sunday.
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The request has also found support across the political spectrum. Earlier, CPI(M) leader and former Education Minister V. Sivankutty urged the state government to declare a holiday, saying the late-night final between Argentina and Spain would make it difficult for students to go to school on Monday morning.
He proposed making up for the lost school day by converting the Saturday holiday into a work day. Many United Democratic Front leaders also supported calls for a school holiday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup finals reach their climax on Sunday when defending champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in New York, New Jersey. The huge final pits Argentina’s Lionel Messi against a Spain team seeking its second World Cup title after an unbeaten run throughout the tournament. For viewers in India, the match kicks off at 12:30 AM EST on Monday.
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The first World Cup halftime show
The 2026 World Cup will feature the most Super Bowl-style halftime show in the tournament’s history. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has orchestrated the production, which is expected to last approximately 11 minutes. Taking set-up and take-down time into account, players’ break may be longer than 20 minutes.
The halftime lineup includes Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS and famous bandleader Gustavo Dudamel. The PS 22 Choir from Staten Island will also perform with Coldplay. Several Sesame Street characters are expected to appear during the show.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump is expected to participate in presenting the cup.
(With inputs from PTI)
