The Manipur government has declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Monday to let students watch the FIFA World Cup Football final past midnight without worrying about attending classes a few hours later.
Football is the most popular sport in Manipur, which produces an assembly line of footballers representing top clubs across India. Some even play for other States.
The final, between Argentina and Spain, is scheduled to start at 12:30 a.m. IST.
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“…the Governor of Manipur is pleased to declare the closure of all schools as may be affiliated to the Board of Secondary Education, the Council of Higher Secondary Education, the Central Board of Secondary Education or otherwise; college and higher education institutes, including universities; falling under government, aided, or unaided sectors, on Monday, the 20th of July, 2026,” an order, signed by Education Commissioner-Secretary Ningthoujam Geoffrey on Sunday (July 19, 2026), read.
A government spokesperson said the decision was made to let students in the football-crazy State enjoy the final without worrying about attending classes “half asleep”.
“Most students are likely to stay awake till 3 or 4 a.m. or at least 2 hours from midnight to be unable to focus on their studies a few hours later,” he said.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has also announced a holiday for all educational institutions in the State on Monday for the World Cup final during the wee hours. “Enjoy the finals,” he said in a social media message.
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Published on Jul 19, 2026