England fans heading to the pub for tonight’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway can breathe easy: even if thunderstorms delay the kick-off, they won’t miss a minute. The government has agreed to extend licensing hours in England and Wales until 30 minutes after the final whistle, ensuring punters can see all the action — including extra time and penalties — regardless of when the match actually starts.
The Three Lions face Norway at 10pm BST in Miami, but forecast torrential rain, lightning and heavy storms have cast doubt on the schedule. According to Accuweather, temperatures an hour before kick-off are expected to hit 33C, with a ‘Real Feel’ above 40C, and a 50% chance of rain. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says matches must be halted if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium. If that happens, the game can only restart once there have been no strikes in that zone for 30 minutes; then fans are allowed back to their seats and players have a 15-minute warm-up.
“Pubs in England can stay open 30 minutes after final whistle if thunderstorms delay England vs Norway.”
The prospect of a delayed kick-off — or even a suspension mid-match — prompted the government to act. It is not the first time this World Cup that licensing hours have been tweaked: pubs were allowed to remain open until 5am for England’s dramatic round-of-16 victory over Mexico. That match was pushed back by an hour because of lightning at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Tonight’s extension gives pubs and bars showing the football breathing room if the 10pm start slips later.
Thomas Tuchel’s side take on the Scandinavians in Florida, where thunderstorms and heavy rain have been forecast. The inclement weather could cause chaos similar to the Mexico game. FIFA’s emergency preparedness team, which meets regularly with meteorological and emergency management authorities in the US, Canada and Mexico, has a tournament-wide severe weather protocol in place, according to reports.
For England fans, the key question is whether the match will start on time. But even if lightning strikes, the nation’s pubs will stay open until the final whistle — giving supporters no excuse to miss what could be a historic night.