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Pubs across England and Wales may be allowed to stay open until 1 a.m. next summer, provided a home nation advances to at least the quarter-final stage of the upcoming football World Cup. This possibility comes as the government has initiated a six-week public consultation focused on extending pub licensing hours. The aim is to enable fans to gather and support their teams during key matches.
The World Cup is set to begin next June and will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Given the significant time difference—at least five hours behind the UK—the consultation suggests that licensing hours could be extended to 1 a.m. for the semi-finals and final if the matches start at or before 9 p.m. UK time. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, holds the authority to prolong pub opening hours during events of “exceptional international, national or local significance.”
Such extensions have precedent. Licensing hours were extended during last year’s Women’s Euro 2025 tournament, the Men’s Euro 2024 final, and the Women’s Euro 2022 final. Similarly, pubs were permitted to stay open later this year for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. However, this potential extension would only apply within England and Wales, since Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate licensing frameworks.
Home Secretary Mahmood commented: “Our nation’s pubs are going into extra time. If any nation reaches the final stages, we will extend licensing hours.” The 2026 tournament marks the first time the World Cup will be hosted by three countries simultaneously. England and Scotland will discover their group stage opponents at the finals draw in Washington DC, while Wales and Northern Ireland still have a chance to qualify via the play-offs, where 16 teams are competing for four spots. Industry leaders such as Michael Kill, CEO of the Night-Time Industries Association, have welcomed the consultation, seeing it as an opportunity for the hospitality sector to thrive. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, emphasized the significance of pubs as central to live sport, while Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality highlighted the potential economic benefits for hospitality businesses. The consultation will remain open until January, with the Home Office expected to announce a decision shortly after reviewing the responses
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