Anthony Albanese proposes national celebration in support of Socceroos
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australians could be given a week off if Australia wins the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Prime Minister delivered his keynote speech at the Airport City Summit on Friday, where he playfully joked about giving the country a week off if the Socceroos win the World Cup.
When Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue President Christopher Brown asked whether the Australians would take a public holiday if they win against Egypt on Saturday, the Prime Minister offered his own strategy.
“The reality is that public holidays are determined entirely by state governments,” he said.
“But I think if we win we can give everyone a week.”
According to UK-based company Squawka, some betting companies currently have a 300-to-1 chance of the Socceroos winning the World Cup.
Others were less optimistic, giving the national team points at odds of 500 to 1, making it the clear winner.
The Prime Minister described how his previous attempts to declare a public holiday were rejected by state government leaders.
“How do I know this? Because when Queen Elizabeth passed away, I unilaterally declared a public holiday and eventually the State Governments stepped in,” he said.
“But it was pointed out to me at the time that it wasn’t actually my responsibility.”
Mr Brown also used Paraguay’s win over Germany, which led to a public holiday for the country, as an example.
“We’ll see how we go. I don’t want to disparage any country, so good luck in Paraguay. I think the businesses in this room might object,” he said.
The event, hosted by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, explored how the new Western Sydney Airport will support new infrastructure and investment opportunities.
The Prime Minister used his opening speech to introduce the Socceroos, saying they represented his vision of a multicultural Australia.
“We are a multicultural nation. That’s who we are and you know what? We should celebrate. Socceroos show that and pride,” he said.
“We should be proud of that and celebrate that, just like we celebrate every Socceroo, whether their name is Irankunda or Irvine, they are all proud to represent our country, but they are also proud of who they are.”
The Socceroos will face Egypt in the round of 32 of the World Cup at 4am (AEST) on Saturday at Dallas Stadium.
