Imphal, July 19, 2026: The Government of Manipur has declared the closure of all schools, colleges, universities and other higher educational institutions across the state on Monday, July 20, 2026, to enable students to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
The decision was announced through an official order issued by the Secretariat’s Education Department on Sunday. According to the order, the FIFA World Cup final is scheduled to begin at 0030 hours, or 12:30 am, on July 20.
Considering the late-night timing of the much-awaited football final, the state government decided to close educational institutions for the day so that students across Manipur can enjoy the match without having to attend classes the following morning.
The closure will cover all schools affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur, the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur, the Central Board of Secondary Education and other recognised education boards operating in the state.
The order will also apply to colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education under government, government-aided and unaided sectors. As such, both public and private educational institutions falling under the jurisdiction of the Education Department are expected to remain closed on Monday.
The official notification stated that the Governor of Manipur was pleased to declare the closure “with a view to enable students across the State to enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final.”
The announcement is expected to be welcomed by football enthusiasts across the state, particularly students, as football enjoys widespread popularity in Manipur. The state has produced several prominent footballers and has a strong sporting culture, with major international tournaments attracting considerable public interest.
The FIFA World Cup final is one of the most watched sporting events globally, and football supporters across Manipur are expected to stay awake late into the night to witness the championship match.
The order was issued by Ningthoujam Geoffrey, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Government of Manipur, in charge of School Education, Higher and Technical Education, Adult Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training.
Educational institutions, administrators, teachers, parents and students have been advised to take note of the government order regarding the statewide closure on July 20.
Users Today : 46
Total Users : 66485