Supporters can celebrate World Cup victories until 2am as pubs gain extended licensing for key home nation matches involving England or Scotland.
Expanded Trading Hours Confirmed
Ministers have approved rules allowing pubs to remain open two extra hours beyond standard closing times. For knockout games starting between 5pm and 9pm, venues can serve until 1am. Matches kicking off from 9pm to 10pm qualify for last orders at 2am.
These extensions cover 13 potential fixtures across the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final. Fans can now watch up to three additional games in pubs without operators needing special permissions.
Historic Boost After Decade-Long Gap
This marks the first such extension in 10 years for these tournament stages. Similar measures supported the Women’s Euro 2025 and the Men’s Euro 2024 final, fostering community spirit and economic growth.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated: “If our boys are on the pitch, we want our fans to stay in the pub. So we’re giving pubs and bars an open goal to serve punters long after the last penalty hits the back of the net. We won’t have fans coming home before football does.”
Industry Welcomes Economic Lift
Leaders in the hospitality sector praise the changes for driving revenue, preserving jobs, and prolonging match-day excitement. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, noted: “There’s no place quite like the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams, and being able to open for longer means people can come together, boost community spirit and enjoy a summer of sport. The government cutting red tape is a really positive step in helping the sector and must go hand in hand with reducing regulatory burdens and costs so our locals can continue to be places for people to gather under one roof to celebrate moments of national significance.”
Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, highlighted: Pubs and bars will be packed with supporters cheering on the home nations during what she described as the “centrepiece of this year’s summer of sport.”
