Pubs across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 5am on Monday, July 6, for England's World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer implemented an emergency nationwide licensing relaxation. The game kicks off at 1am and could extend beyond 3am with extra time and penalties.
Government Reverses Earlier Stance
The decision marks a complete U-turn by Downing Street. Earlier on Thursday, business minister Kate Dearden had stated that standard licensing laws would remain in place. After intense criticism from supporters, backbench MPs and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the Prime Minister personally intervened. Starmer said allowing hospitality venues to stay open until the match concludes is "superb news for local communities and football supporters."
Emergency Powers Used
The home secretary is using unique statutory powers that permit altering standard operating limits during occasions of exceptional national significance. A formal statutory instrument is being presented to parliament, and local authorities are being officially briefed on the changes. This avoids the previous requirement for individual temporary event notices, which had a five-day cutoff that many landlords had already missed. Numerous local councils had blocked those late submissions, forcing premises to shut at 2am.
Hospitality Industry Welcomes Move
Trade bodies including the British Beer and Pub Association have praised the decision, highlighting that the summer games have already injected millions of pounds into the hospitality sector. They emphasised that the traditional local pub remains the ultimate environment for fans to gather and enjoy major sporting dramas together.
Workplace Flexibility Announced
Several corporate firms and banks have unveiled flexible morning rotas for staff, allowing them to work remotely or log on after 7am to recover from the late night of supporting the team.
