What's the score with Scotland's World Cup holiday - and will schools be off?

Emotions around Scotland's qualification for the World Cup were still high when it was announced the country would have a day off to help mark the occasion.

The extra bank holiday was billed as a way to celebrate the men's national side reaching the tournament for the first time in almost 30 years.

But the holiday has not been universally adopted by employers and some parents may find they have to arrange childcare where schools are closed.

So, who is getting the extra day off - and who isn't?

Scotland booked its place in the 2026 World Cup after an extraordinary 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden in November.

Just weeks later, First Minister John Swinney said 15 June should be designated as a national bank holiday.

It was later formally confirmed by the King.

The date comes after Scotland's first World Cup group fixture, a game against Haiti in Boston, Massachusetts, at 02:00 BST on Sunday 14 June.

Scotland's remaining group matches are against Morocco, also in Boston, and Brazil in Miami, Florida.

There are an estimated 551,500 public sector workers in Scotland who could have been offered the holiday.

Many of them work for local councils which each had the power to adopt the extra day off.

There is no law requiring businesses, such as banks, to close on bank holidays and it has been left to firms and other organisations outside the public sector to decide if their staff should have it.

Just five of Scotland's 32 councils say they are giving the public holiday - Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire.

West Lothian Council and North Ayrshire decided at meetings on Tuesday not to take the holiday.

North Ayrshire had initially approved the day off, but three councillors called in the decision saying it would cost the council more than £1m in lost productivity.

All of Scotland's health boards have approved 15 June as a day off.

That means a total of 237,200 public sector workers are entitled to take the holiday - 74,000 council workers and 163,200 NHS workers.

Joining them will be about 16,650 people who work for the Scottish government.

However workers at the Scottish Parliament will not automatically get the day off.

Instead Holyrood managers have been asked to "look favourably" on requests for leave from staff, and MSPs are free to award additional leave to their staff.

Public service union Unison said many workers would not benefit from the holiday.

Organiser John Mooney said: "Local government workers are used to working over public holidays, it's part of the job, and many will still be on duty that day.

"However, council staff have just as much right as anyone else to take part in a national holiday and support their team, if they can."

He added: "By raising expectations without putting the necessary arrangements in place, many workers feel overlooked."

Most schools will be open as most local authorities have rejected any proposal for the extra day off.

However it is unclear whether the bank holiday will extend to school children and their teachers in all the council areas where it has been adopted.

Dundee City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Aberdeen City Council and Renfrewshire Council confirmed their schools would be closed.

But Glasgow City Council has yet to answer BBC Scotland News' question about whether the bank holiday would close schools.

Separately, local licensing boards have been considering the issue of whether pubs showing Scotland's games can stay open into the wee small hours.

Some authorities have agreed to general rules allowing them to do so while others, such as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in the Western Isles, will decide applications on a case-by-case basis.

Aberdeen City Council was the first authority to kick off the decisions on whether to take the bank holiday, agreeing on 23 February to do so.

Staff governance committee convener Neil Copland said it was worth marking "a bit of history in the making".

He said: "Our decision takes into consideration the 02:00 kick off and that many thousands of people in Aberdeen will want to watch the game."

Copland said taking an early decision allowed employees to prepare in advance for celebrations, while also ensuring "critical services" would continue to be provided.

Vice-convener Gill Al-Samarai added: "We have had ad hoc public holidays in recent years for events such as the Coronation of King Charles and the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee and funeral.

"As always, on such occasions, normal public holiday service delivery levels will be applied in all essential service areas."

No day off, no party, right?

Local authorities that have rejected the holiday would strongly argue they are not being party poopers but acting responsibility.

Many point out it would mean additional costs at a time when they are having to make unpopular cuts to services.

Highland councillors said giving the day off could cost the local authority an estimated £150,000.

They agreed to reject the proposal after arguing the holiday could have an impact on essential services such as bin collections and schools.

City of Edinburgh Council also rejected the one-day break.

The local authority cited concerns over an estimated £350,000 cost for the holiday.

In a cross-party vote, 35 councillors rejected the proposal, while 26 voted in favour.

A report to Inverclyde Council suggested financial implications would be about £72,000, with an additional £9,000 then going towards free school meal holiday payments for eligible carers.

It added that "while not a direct cost" the productivity losses would amount to £610,000.

The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland said employers would try to be as flexible as they always were with time off.

Director Colin Borland said: "But, realistically, if you have customers to look after and orders to fulfil, you can't simply shut down and give everyone the day off.

"It will be a particularly busy time for lots of small businesses and self-employed people – so it will probably be all hands on deck for many bars, shops, restaurants, taxi firms and more."