Police are scrambling to deploy additional officers for the early-morning World Cup clash between England and Mexico on Monday, as fans are expected to leave pubs across London and the UK after the match ends. The showdown with co-hosts Mexico kicks off at 1am at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which sits at an altitude of over 7,000 feet. However, the start time could be delayed by weather, as has happened earlier in the tournament, and the match may go to extra time and penalties.
Pubs Allowed to Stay Open Until 5am
Pubs in England and Wales will be permitted to remain open until 5am for the round of 16 match, following an announcement by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday. However, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) criticised the timing of the decision, stating that the “late announcement” forced forces to adapt plans and take officers away from communities.
In a joint statement, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, and Acting Chief Constable Scott Green, NPCC lead for alcohol licensing and harm reduction, said: “We recognise there will be significant public interest in England’s match on Monday morning and that many of the public will want to come together in pubs and licensed venues to enjoy the occasion. We also know from previous tournaments the knock-out games sadly see an increase in violent incidents particularly in the night-time economy and an increase in domestic abuse. This is directly linked to alcohol consumption.”
Police Urge Fans to Be Considerate
A Met Police spokesperson told The Standard: “We are aware pubs will be allowed to stay open until 05:00hrs on Monday and will have sufficient officers to deal swiftly with any issues or offences. We encourage all football fans to enjoy watching the match safely without causing disruption to others.” The police chiefs added: “The likely route for England progression has been known for a considerable time yet this late announcement leaves policing having to adapt our plans seeing officers working extended shifts which in turn takes them away from communities. From a policing perspective, our priority is to support people to enjoy the match safely and responsibly. We therefore ask those watching the game to be considerate – drink within sensible limits, and behave in a way that keeps you, your friends, staff, officers and the wider public safe.”
Pubs and Businesses Prepare
Greene King confirmed that more than 600 pubs across England will stay open late to show the match, while Marston's said over 400 will be open late. There are already signs that many businesses expect some staff to not show up on Monday morning, with data from Gong Labs showing a 30% reduction in early morning meetings booked. Chief executive Amit Bendov said: “Our latest data suggests early morning meeting cancellations are already running above a typical Monday, and UK teams have booked roughly 30% fewer morning meetings than usual. But the work itself isn’t stopping, it’s simply changing channels – suggesting employees and businesses across the UK are planning around World Cup fixtures so results aren’t sacrificed in favour of supporting the Three Lions.”
Unions Call for Flexibility
Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, which represents over 500 businesses, said: “I don’t think our economy can afford for Monday to become an unofficial bank holiday where nobody comes to work. Having said that, this is a one off, so common sense should apply. I’m sure most businesses will be pretty flexible about what happens on Monday morning. They’re all now well used to flexible and hybrid working, so as long as the work ultimately gets done, it may make sense for many to show some leeway and push Monday morning meetings back a bit.”
Transport Arrangements
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed they will not run any special services for the game but reminded fans to check before traveling and stay safe. A TfL spokesperson said: “Our night-time transport network features more than 100 bus routes to help people travel across London, as well as our regulated taxi and private hire networks.”
