Pubs across England and Wales could be granted special permission to serve fans until 1am during next year's football World Cup, under new government plans. The proposal would see licensing hours extended if any of the home nations – England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland – progress to the tournament's quarter-final stage or beyond.
Home Secretary Backs Late-Night Football Celebrations
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has launched a consultation on the move, which would allow pubs to remain open until 1am for matches that kick off before 9pm UK time. For games with later start times, publicans would need to apply for specific permission. The power to extend opening hours for events of exceptional national significance has been used before, notably for the Women's Euros final and the men's finals in 2022 and 2023.
Ms Mahmood stated: 'Our nations' pubs are going into extra time. This World Cup could be the first in over 60 years with every home nation there. The party won't end before the final whistle is blown.' She personally added her hope that 'It's coming home.'
A Vital Boost for the Struggling Hospitality Industry
The news has been warmly welcomed by pub landlords and industry leaders, who see it as a crucial lifeline for a sector grappling with high energy bills, rising wages, and significant tax pressures. The hospitality industry anticipates a major economic uplift from the tournament.
Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Heineken's Star Pubs chain, which operates 2,400 venues, highlighted the potential benefit: 'Big set piece events like the World Cup are massive for bringing people together and should be a huge boost for the economy. Typically we see trade increase by over 20 per cent during these tournaments.' He added that extended hours would be welcomed nationwide, hoping for a deep England run.
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, emphasised the social role of pubs: 'The pub has and always will be the home of live sport... Our sector plays a huge part in boosting community spirit and extending licensing hours will mean that people can gather for longer at their local to cheer on our brilliant teams.'
Logistics and Potential Economic Impact
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, presents a scheduling challenge for UK viewers. To avoid extreme heat for players, many matches are expected to kick off later, potentially as late as 2am UK time. The government's proposed framework is designed to accommodate these unusual hours.
The economic stakes are high. The industry estimates that a successful tournament with extended hours could see an additional 55 million pints of beer sold in Britain throughout the competition. This represents a substantial revenue stream for local businesses.
The formal consultation on the proposals began yesterday and will run for six weeks, seeking views from the public, police, and local authorities before a final decision is made.
