Tesco has announced that all of its Express stores across England will close early on Sunday, July 19, if the England football team reaches the World Cup Final. The decision comes as England prepares to face Argentina in the semi-final on Thursday, July 16. If they win, they will play either Spain or France in the final, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm.
Early Closing Details
If England qualifies, Tesco Express stores in England will close at 7:30pm, instead of the usual 10pm or 11pm closing times. This will give staff time to get home or to a pub to watch the match. Tesco confirmed that employees will receive their normal pay for the hours they would have worked.
Kevin Tindall, managing director of UK operations at Tesco, said: "We appreciate just how much this would mean to so many of our colleagues, so if England makes it through to the final, we will close our Express stores across England in time for all colleagues to be able to celebrate with their family and friends."
Impact on Larger Stores and Online Orders
Since the match falls on a Sunday, larger Tesco stores in England will already be closed by kick-off time. All stores will reopen as usual the following morning. Express stores will operate normally during the daytime, allowing fans to stock up on supplies. Customers needing last-minute essentials can still use the Whoosh delivery service until 11pm.
Online grocery home shopping orders already placed for Sunday evening will be honored and delivered as normal. If England does not reach the final, stores will maintain their regular hours. Stores in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will continue to operate according to their usual schedules regardless of the match.
Potential Bank Holiday
If England beats Argentina and goes on to win the World Cup, the government is reportedly planning a conditional bank holiday on Friday, July 24, to coincide with a potential victory parade. Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, asked about a bank holiday at the Nato summit earlier this month, said: "On the question of a bank holiday, I don't want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final."
The Prime Minister previously intervened to prevent a change to the kick-off time for England's World Cup game against Mexico, amid concerns it would give hosts an unfair advantage. He also allowed pubs to stay open until 5am for fans to watch the match.
