Proposals have been put forward to allow late-night pub openings in Scotland during the 2026 World Cup, aiming to accommodate fans watching matches played in North America. With kick-off times between 5pm and 5am UK time, the government is considering automatic licensing extensions for knockout stage games involving Scotland or England.
For group stage matches, no automatic extensions are granted. Pubs with standard 11pm licences can show games starting up to 9pm without issue. For later kick-offs, venues may apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to stay open, which is expected to be approved in most cases.
During the knockout stages, if Scotland or England play, pubs in England and Wales with standard licences can stay open until 1am for games kicking off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for those between 9pm and 10pm. However, this extension does not apply to matches starting after 10pm, requiring a TEN for later hours.
The government may review the extension terms if later kick-offs arise. For knockout matches not involving home nations, no automatic extensions apply, so fans should check with venues in advance. Council curfews may also affect outdoor viewing, so it is advisable to confirm with the pub before attending.
