Starmer vetoes Tuchel’s call to bunk off school after England’s 1am Mexico game

<p>Education minister Jacqui Smith suggests ‘disco nap’ on Sunday so everyone is fresh as a daisy on Monday</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jul/02/world-cup-2026-england-and-belgium-fight-back-spain-v-austria-buildup-and-more-live">World Cup live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Keir Starmer wants children up and ready for school on Monday morning regardless of the England game being played at 1am UK time.</p><p>After England qualified for the next round of the World Cup on Wednesday evening after their win against the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the head coach, Thomas Tuchel, urged parents to let their children bunk off school so they could stay up to watch the match against Mexico. Play could last until at least 3am.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/02/keir-starmer-vetoes-tuchel-day-off-school-proposal-1am-match-mexico">Continue reading...</a>