As the football crisis reaches its peak for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the governments of Kerala, Meghalaya and Manipur have declared a holiday today on July 20, 2026 for all educational institutions according to media reports. It allowed students to stay awake and watch the upcoming clash between Spain and Argentina without having to worry about going to classes the next morning. The World Cup final started at 12:30 am IST on Monday and continued into the morning.
Kerala has declared a national holiday
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan announced that all educational institutions, including technical colleges, will remain closed on Monday.In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister said that football has a special place in the culture of Kerala and that the state’s interest in the game is admired around the world.He added that the final will end around 2:30 am IST as per normal and later if it goes to extra time or penalty shootout. Acknowledging that students are complaining about going to school late, the government decided to declare a holiday.“Children have been asking how they will be able to go to school after sleeping so late. The government has decided to declare a holiday for all educational institutions in the state, including the top colleges. Let everyone enjoy the end of Argentina-Spain with all its joy,” he said.Kerala Education Minister N Samsudheen added that the Education Department also wants to encourage students’ interest in sports, making the election both practical and symbolic.
Meghalaya follows suit
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also announced a holiday for all educational institutions across the state.Calling football “passion and life” in Meghalaya, Sangma said the idea aims to give young football fans an opportunity to watch one of the biggest sports in the world without the pressure of studying the next morning.The north-east region has long been known for its footballing culture, producing a number of international players and drawing large crowds to home games.
Manipur closes schools and colleges
Manipur has also entered the list of states declaring holidays for educational institutions. According to an order issued by the state education department, the Governor ordered that all schools and colleges remain closed on Monday so that students across the state can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.The order said that the move was taken “with the aim of helping students across the country enjoy the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.”
Popularity unrelated to football
The concept of the three countries reflects the deep football traditions in several parts of India, especially in Kerala and the Northeast. While cricket dominates the sport in the country. Football is very popular in these states, where international festivals often attract crowds and festive celebrations.The announcement of the holiday also reflects the growing efforts of national governments to promote sports among the youth as they recognize the importance of major sports around the world.As Argentina and Spain prepare to battle it out for football’s biggest prize, students in Kerala, Meghalaya and Manipur can now wait to witness the final without rushing to classes the next morning.