Pubs and bars across England will be open until 1am tonight, July 15, to accommodate fans watching the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. The match kicks off at 8pm UK time, and the government has granted a temporary extension to usual licensing hours, allowing venues to remain open an hour or more later than normal.
Kick-off and TV audience
Around 30,000 England supporters are expected at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA, where the match is being played. In the UK, up to 25 million viewers are predicted to tune in on television. The Three Lions must beat the reigning champions to secure a place in the final on Sunday, July 19.
Extended hours and previous permissions
Most pubs in England typically close between 11pm and midnight on weekdays and between midnight and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. The government has previously allowed extended hours during the World Cup. For matches in the knockout stages with kick-offs between 5pm and 9pm, pubs can stay open until 1am; for kick-offs between 9pm and 10pm, they can remain open until 2am.
Earlier in the tournament, on July 11, pubs were permitted to stay open for 30 minutes after the final whistle of the Norway v England quarter-final, which England won 2-1 in extra time with both goals from Jude Bellingham. On July 6, pubs in England and Wales were allowed to remain open until 5am for the England v Mexico match, after the government reversed its initial decision not to further relax licensing laws.
Government encouragement for late openings
The government has called on local authorities to approve Temporary Event Notices quickly, enabling pubs to host special screenings and events in beer gardens. This follows the initial extension of opening hours, which also applied to Scotland matches in the knockout stages.
Potential final and bank holiday
If England wins tonight, they will face Spain in the final on Sunday, July 19. Spain booked their place by defeating France 2-0 on July 14. England has not reached a World Cup final since 1966. Reports indicate that a victory could lead to a conditional bank holiday on Friday, July 24.
