Pubs in England are permitted to open late to broadcast the World Cup knockout match against Mexico on Monday, July 6, but they must first secure explicit written permission. The match kicks off at 1am UK time and is expected to conclude by 3am, with the possibility of extra time and penalties extending play until 3:30am.
The Home Office had previously granted blanket permission for pubs to stay open until 1am normally, or 2am for late kick-offs. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government confirmed that the 2am rule applies only to matches kicking off between 9pm and 10pm. Since the England v Mexico match starts at 1am, it does not qualify for this automatic extension.
To legally show the game, landlords must apply directly to their local council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). This would grant them individual permission to extend their licensing hours, potentially allowing them to stay open until 3:30am in the event of extra time and penalties.
The government is actively encouraging councils to support the hospitality sector for the game. The Secretary of State for Communities, Steve Reed, has already written to local authorities across the country, urging them to approve the late-night applications submitted by local venues.
The ultimate decision rests with local councils, and strict legal deadlines are already causing issues. For example, one landlord's application was rejected by his council because it was submitted with only four working days' notice, failing to meet the mandatory five working day statutory requirement.
