Pints to penalties! PM Starmer keeps pubs open for England vs. Mexico
Pubs and bars across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am on Monday 6 July after the UK Government temporarily relaxed licensing rules for England’s World Cup round of 16 match against Mexico. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the move on Thursday 2 July, saying the decision would allow fans to watch the evening’s knockout match without the ground being forced to close before the final whistle.
The match, which is due to kick off at 1am UK time in Mexico City, is expected to draw huge crowds in pubs and bars as England continue their World Cup campaign.
“Football can come home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” Starmer said in a statement. “Pubs staying open until the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and businesses that bring our communities together. The whole country will support the team. Come on England!”
The temporary extension removes the need for individual pubs and bars to apply for a special permit to serve alcohol beyond the normal license period. Instead, the Home Secretary exercised legislative powers to allow extensions of the licensing period on occasions deemed to be “exceptionally international, national or local”. Similar relaxations were introduced for Previous England World Cup matches that started before 22:00 (UK time).
GOVERNMENT EASES LICENSING RULES FOR KNOCKOUT CLASH
The extended opening hours are expected to boost England’s hospitality sector, with pubs anticipating a surge in customers for the country’s first knockout match of the tournament.
Normally, licensed venues would have to make individual applications to remain open beyond standard closing hours. By temporarily relaxing the rules nationwide, the government removed this administrative hurdle, allowing pubs and bars to continue serving customers until 5am
Hospitality also welcomed the announcement, saying it would benefit both fans and businesses. Pubs and bars to host England fans until 5am (UK time) (Photo Reuters)
“Pubs and fans will question this decision as we all know that the best place to watch the game is locally,” said Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association.
The decision reflects the importance of England’s World Cup campaign and follows on from previous license exemptions granted during major national sporting occasions. Officials believe the move will not only improve the matchday experience for fans, but also generate additional business for pubs, many of which rely on major sporting events to boost business.
England take on Mexico in a high profile Round of 16 clashwith a place in the quarter-finals of the World Championship in the game. With the match taking place in the early hours of Monday morning for UK viewers, fans across England and Wales will now be able to watch the entire contest from their local pub without the worry of an early closing time.
Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news
– The end
Published on:
03 Jul 2026 04:15 IST