World
Glastonbury won’t show England or Scotland World Cup matches
With England and Scotland potentially facing football World Cup matches over Glastonbury weekend, fans had been asking if the games would be shown at the festival as has occasionally happened previously.
Should England or Scotland make it through the competitions group stages, they’ll end up with last-16 knock out games on the Saturday and Sunday evenings of Glasto.
Unfortunately for any attendees hoping to watch, organisers have said this morning it won’t be possible to screen the games as they’ll clash with main headline acts.
When games have been shown in recent years, they’ve taken place on a more forgiving time slot. But with thousands of festivalgoers potentially descending on any screening, Glasto simply can’t make space at a big enough venue at peak time Saturday or Sunday evening.
In a statement, organisers said: “Should England or Scotland’s men’s teams qualify from the group stages of this summer’s European Football Championships in Germany, their matches in the Last 16 of the tournament could take place on the Saturday or Sunday evening of this year’s Festival.
“In previous years, we have endeavoured to show notable matches on big screens where possible, particularly on days before the main stages have opened.
“However, with England and Scotland’s Last 16 matches potentially clashing with headline sets at this year’s Festival, the decision has been made that – as in 2014 and 2016 – should England or Scotland qualify from their groups, their Last 16 matches will not be shown at the Festival.
“It won’t be known until the week of the Festival whether or not England or Scotland will actually play a match during the Festival. But, as we have already been asked about our plans, we wanted to let everyone know well in advance that the decision has been made not to screen the potential matches.
“We would like to wish both Gareth Southgate and Steve Clarke’s sides all the best in Germany. And we hope we’ll all be able to watch them play Quarter Final matches in the days after this year’s Festival.”