GUWAHATI: Football fever has gripped India, with the governments of Meghalaya, Manipur and Kerala declaring a holiday for educational institutions on Monday to allow students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between defending champions Argentina and Spain.
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The much-anticipated title clash is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 AM on Monday, prompting the three states to suspend classes in recognition of football's immense popularity among students and young fans.
In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that all schools and colleges would remain closed on Monday, describing football as "a passion and a way of life" in the state.
The announcement comes amid widespread excitement over the tournament, with large crowds gathering at the Chief Minister's fan parks set up for live screenings at a parking lot in Shillong, as well as in Jowai and Tura.
Kerala has also declared a holiday for all schools, colleges and professional educational institutions after students urged the government to suspend classes, saying it would be difficult to attend after staying up late to watch the World Cup final.
The Kerala government noted that the match could extend into the early hours of Monday if it goes into extra time or a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, the Manipur government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, universities and higher educational institutions
across the state to enable students to watch the final.
Defending champions Argentina will take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, a fixture expected to draw millions of viewers across the globe.