The UK government is urging local councils to permit pubs to extend their opening hours for England's early morning World Cup Round of 16 match against Mexico, which kicks off at 1am on Monday. Downing Street confirmed on Thursday that Communities Secretary Steve Reed has written to councils encouraging them to approve applications for extended hours, allowing fans to watch the game in pubs.
Current Licensing Rules and Exceptions
Measures have already been passed to allow pubs to stay open until 2am for England's knockout stage matches that start between 9pm and 10pm. However, this blanket extension does not apply to Monday's 1am clash. The government is now urging councils to use their discretion to grant individual extensions for this late-night fixture.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said: “The Secretary of State for Housing and Communities has written to councils to encourage them to sign off applications for pubs to extend their hours even further with these late games so that fans can enjoy the football.”
Political Pressure for Blanket Extension
Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson called for a nationwide licensing extension during business and trade questions in the House of Commons on Thursday. He highlighted the economic opportunity for pubs, stating: “Harry Kane’s heroics last night means that many England fans are looking forward to an early morning or a late night, depending on one’s perspective, on Monday, and this is a good thing. But pubs risk missing out on a real opportunity to get more money into the till if ministers do not make a blanket extension for licensing hours.”
Business Minister Kate Dearden responded by praising Kane's performance but noted the limitations: “He will know that pubs can stay open for an extra two or three hours, depending on how late the match starts, so that pubs can still open as the game finishes. Regarding Sunday, unfortunately that doesn’t apply with the 1am start, but going forwards we’re absolutely backing our pubs, so people can watch and support our lads, and it’s coming home hopefully.”
Context: England's World Cup Run and Bank Holiday Speculation
England secured their place in the knockout stage after a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, with Harry Kane scoring alongside Jude Bellingham. The win set up the 1am clash with Mexico on Monday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously left the door open to granting a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup. Asked about the possibility at the G7 summit last month, he said: “I'm not gonna jinx the World Cup but, you know, the last time we won the World Cup it was a Labour government. And so it's absolutely clear that we only win World Cups under a Labour government. So let's hope that this is the next opportunity.”
However, No10 declined to commit to a bank holiday on Monday, despite Starmer backing a similar call for the Lionesses' Euro final in 2022 under the previous Conservative government.
