When England’s World Cup round-of-16 clash against Mexico kicks off at 1am on a Monday morning, thousands of fans across England and Wales will still be able to watch the match in their local pub – thanks to a last-minute government decision to extend licensing hours until 5am.
In the UK, pubs are normally allowed to sell alcohol between 11am and 11pm under standard licensing hours. But for major sporting events – especially when England are playing – the government can temporarily relax these rules. For the 2026 World Cup, the Home Office had already extended hours to 2am for matches kicking off after 9pm. However, because England’s match against Mexico started at 1am UK time, that extension didn’t cover the final whistle. After a fierce backlash from MPs, pub owners, and London mayor Sadiq Khan, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reversed an earlier refusal and announced that pubs could stay open until 5am on Monday 3 July 2026. “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” he said.
“Why pubs can stay open until 5am for England's World Cup match and how licensing laws work.”
This is not the first time such a decision has been made. During the Euro 2025 women’s tournament, the government allowed extended hours for the semi-final and final. The power to do so comes from the Licensing Act 2003, which lets the home secretary make a “relaxation order” on occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance”. That means a blanket extension applies to all pubs in England and Wales without them needing to apply individually to their local council – a process that normally requires at least five working days’ notice. Communities Secretary Steve Reed described the emergency legislation as “one of the fastest changes in the law that we’ve seen”.
For UK readers, the practical impact is significant. The match is expected to finish after 3am, so the extension allows fans to watch the entire game in a pub setting rather than at home. This provides a boost to the hospitality industry: Emma McClarkin of the British Beer and Pub Association said “the best place to watch the match is down the local,” while Michael Kill of the Night Time Industries Association called it “a much-needed boost for our hospitality sector”. But there are also downsides. Health officials have warned that combining alcohol with the weekend’s hot weather increases the risk of dehydration. Road safety is another concern, with more people staying out late. And with many fans planning to bunk off work on Monday – a London poll by the Evening Standard found 35% of fans admitted they would skip work – the government’s decision has reignited debate about productivity and school attendance. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said children can still go to school after watching the match, although England manager Thomas Tuchel had urged families to “write an excuse for school and let them watch football”.
Q: Can any pub stay open until 5am for the England match? Yes. The government’s emergency legislation applies to all licensed premises in England and Wales, meaning any pub can serve alcohol until 5am on Monday without needing to apply for a temporary event notice. However, the decision to open is still up to individual landlords.
Q: Will schools be closed or open late on Monday? No. The government has not announced any school closures or late openings. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said it is up to parents to decide, but stressed that children can still attend school even if they stay up to watch the match.
Q: What other World Cup matches have had extended hours? The government initially relaxed licensing hours for all World Cup matches: for kick-offs between 5pm and 9pm, pubs could stay open until 1am; for kick-offs between 9pm and 10pm, until 2am. The 1am kick-off for England vs Mexico was not covered by those rules, prompting the further extension.
The match against Mexico takes place on Monday morning. After that, England’s potential quarter-final would also be played in North America, meaning another early kick-off could lead to similar discussions. The government has not yet confirmed whether any future extensions will be granted. For now, fans can enjoy the game in the pub – but the wider debate about balancing national celebration with workplace and school attendance is far from over.