Pubs across England and Wales will be allowed to remain open until 5am on Monday as fans gather to watch England’s World Cup last-16 match against Mexico.
The decision follows an intervention from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after criticism that many pubs would otherwise be forced to close before the end of the match.
England’s tie against Mexico kicks off at 1am UK time and could run until around 3am if extra time and penalties are required.
Starmer steps in after backlash
According to The Guardian, Starmer reversed the government’s earlier position after complaints from MPs, local leaders and pub owners.
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“Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” Starmer said.
He added that keeping pubs open until the final whistle was good news for supporters and for the venues that bring communities together.
The move means pubs will not have to rely on individual temporary event notices to stay open for the match.
Licensing rules relaxed for Mexico clash
The government had already relaxed licensing rules for the World Cup because of the time difference with the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Under those rules, pubs could stay open until 1am for matches starting between 5pm and 9pm UK time, and until 2am for fixtures kicking off after 9pm.
But England’s match against Mexico falls outside that framework.
To open later, pubs would normally need to apply for a temporary event notice at least five working days in advance. Many venues had missed that deadline because England’s opponent and kick-off time were only confirmed after the win over DR Congo.
Pressure from pubs and politicians
According to Digi24, the decision allows pubs to remain open for the early-morning fixture after England reached the knockout stage.
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The original stance had drawn anger from parts of the hospitality sector.
Stella Creasy, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Walthamstow, warned that independent breweries and pubs needed support to host fans properly.
“Independent breweries such as those in the Blackhorse Beer Mile in Walthamstow are the lifeblood of communities like mine,” she said, according to The Guardian.
She argued that councils and ministers needed to find a solution so fans could support England in local pubs rather than being left outside on the streets.
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A boost for fans and pubs
The Home Secretary will now use powers that allow licensing hours to be extended for events of exceptional international, national or local importance.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed is also writing to council leaders to inform them of the change.
According to AP, the extension applies to England and Wales, but not to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
For pubs, the decision offers a rare commercial lift at a time when many venues are under pressure.
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For England fans, it means one thing above all: they can watch the biggest match of the tournament so far in the pub, even if the final whistle comes deep into the early hours.
