The men’s World Cup, which is the most watched sporting event on the planet, is about to begin. There will be lots of matches to enjoy but in the UK it won’t be possible for young football fans to see all the action. Many children will still have several weeks of school left when the World Cup kicks off and lots of matches start in the evening, UK time. Many games are in the middle of the night. In Scotland, the government has made the Monday after their first World Cup match (which kicks off at 2am) a bank holiday. This means some adults will be off work and some children off school. In England, many children were allowed to go into school late the day after the England team played in the Euro 2024 final. What do you think, is it ok to miss school for sport?
Yes – it’s a rare opportunity
The men’s World Cup and women’s World Cup happen every four years, and many teams don’t even qualify, so it could be a long time before you see your team in a major tournament again. Why not make the most of it and join people across the country in cheering them on? Besides, watching sport can be good for you. A study by Waseda University in Japan found that it improves people’s wellbeing and could even trigger positive changes in the brain’s structure; plus, pupils might struggle to focus if they’ve stayed up to watch a big game. During the 2022 men’s World Cup, US teacher Hank Kim told Tower, a student-run news website, “The students are highly distracted and not motivated to get work done.”
No – children miss out on education
Education is important. After Mexico’s education secretary announced early school closures, the country’s National Union of Parents said, “The education of our children cannot be sacrificed for a sporting event that will be held in only three of the 2,500 municipalities (regions).” Besides, the World Cup doesn’t have to mean students miss school entirely. During the 2022 competition, Welsh footballer Gareth Bale urged teachers to show a match on TV at school. This year, most of the games will be at night, so it’s up to parents if they let their children stay up. It’s unfair if there are special rules only for the World Cup. What if you wanted to miss school to watch another sport but weren’t allowed?