Shillong, July 19: Football’s unmatched popularity in several parts of India, especially North East India, reached a new high on Sunday, with multiple state governments declaring a holiday for educational institutions ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain.
Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Kerala officially announced a holiday on Monday for schools, colleges and other educational institutions, allowing students to stay up and watch the World Cup final, which kicks off at 12.30 am IST (Indian Standard Time) on July 20. The decision came in response to widespread requests from students, parents and football enthusiasts across the four states.
In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that all educational institutions across the state would remain closed on July 20 to allow students and staff to watch the FIFA World Cup final, a decision that reflects the state’s deep-rooted football culture. The holiday is the latest in a series of initiatives by the state government to celebrate the tournament. Since June 26, the government has organised the CM’s Football Fan Park in Shillong, where supporters have been able to watch World Cup matches free of charge from the group stage onwards. Similar fan parks were later established in Jowai and Tura ahead of the quarter-finals, bringing the World Cup experience to fans across the state. Meghalaya’s enthusiasm for football has also earned international recognition. FIFA and its President, Gianni Infantino, have acknowledged the remarkable passion shown by football fans in Shillong, highlighting the city as an example of the sport’s unique ability to bring people together.
The Manipur government also followed suit, announcing a holiday for schools, colleges and universities across the state to enable students and football fans to watch the showpiece event.
Mizoram government has also announced closure of educational institutions so that students can enjoy the match.
Kerala, another football stronghold, declared a holiday for schools, colleges, universities and professional educational institutions after strong public demand. State ministers said the move would allow students to enjoy the final without worrying about attending classes early the next morning.
This decision underlines the immense love people in these states have for football. For them, FIFA World Cup is more than just a sporting event, with neighbourhoods, villages and towns often organising large public screenings, decorating streets with national flags and giant player cut-outs, and supporting their favourite teams with unmatched enthusiasm.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina and Spain will be played on Sunday night (Monday, 12.30 am IST), bringing the month-long global tournament to a close.
