School Holiday Declared in Manipur, Meghalaya and Kerala for FIFA World Cup Final

In an unusual but enthusiastic move, the governments of Manipur, Meghalaya and Kerala have all announced a one‑day holiday for schools and colleges on Monday, 20 July 2026. The aim? To give students a chance to watch the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain without the dread of early‑morning classes looming over them.

Manipur, a state where football is practically a religion, issued the notice through an order signed by Education Commissioner‑Secretary Ningthoujam Geoffrey. The circular states that every institution – whether under the state board, CBSE or any private entity – will remain closed for the day. The decision was taken after officials realised many youngsters would be up past midnight, eyes glued to the screen, and would struggle to focus in class a few hours later.

“Most students are likely to stay awake till three or four a.m., or at least two hours after midnight,” a government spokesperson said. “We didn’t want them to come to school half‑asleep and miss out on both the match and their lessons.”

Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma echoed the sentiment, announcing a similar holiday for all educational institutions in his state. And over in Kerala, the Education Department confirmed the same, citing the nationwide football frenzy as the reason.

The final itself is slated to kick off at 12.30 a.m. IST, pitting the South American powerhouse Argentina against the technically gifted Spain. Given the passion for the sport in these regions – especially in Manipur, which regularly supplies India’s top football talent – the holiday has been welcomed as a sensible gesture.

While teachers may have to adjust lesson plans, parents and students are already gearing up with snacks, blankets and a handful of social‑media memes. For many, this is more than just a match; it’s a celebration of football’s growing stature in India.