Boozers could be allowed to serve until 1am so home nations fans watch their team in the 2026 tournament, with games in the USA, Canada and Mexico kicking off late in the night
Pubs will reportedly be able to serve until 1am if England reach the latter stages of next year’s World Cup. The tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico will see games kicking off later in the evening – which could mean UK boozers going into extra time.
The draw for next summer’s World Cup takes place tomorrow, and with the time-zone differences, British punters can expect to see games kicking off at 5pm, 8pm, 11pm and 2am UK time.
If the Three Lions are to progress deep into the tournament, which starts in June, that’s going to mean a lot of late nights. But fans of Thomas Tuchel’s team needn’t worry, as talks are taking place to decide whether last orders should be extended in a boost to boozers.
England and Scotland have already booked their places in next year’s finals, while Wales and Northern Ireland must qualify through the play-offs. And if any of the home nations qualifies for the latter stages, fans will be able to stay out late to cheer their team on.
And Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is proposing to extend pub opening hours if the UK teams reach the quarters, semis or final, according to The Sun.
She said: “Our nations’ pubs are going into extra time. This World Cup could be the first in over 60 years with every home nation there.
“If any nation reaches the final stages, we will extend licensing hours. The party won’t end before the final whistle is blown.
“And in a personal capacity, I would like to add. . . It’s coming home.”
A six-week government consultation is set to start today about extending pub hours until 1am for World Cup matches kicking off at 9pm or later. The extension would only apply to England and Wales, although Scotland and play-off contenders Northern Ireland may adopt similar hours.
It is estimated around 55 million pints could be drunk in the UK during the month-long tournament – giving the struggling pub industry a significant leg-up.
Star Pubs boss Lawson Mountstevens added: “Big set-piece events like the World Cup are massive for bringing people together. Typically we see trade increase by over 20 per cent during these tournaments.”
Danni Hewson, of analysts AJ Bell, said England’s run to fourth place at the 2022 World Cup was a big boost to the economy:
“That storming run resulted in millions more pints being pulled, pizzas scoffed, and bets placed,” she said. “The general feel-good factor is also thought to have boosted consumer spend generally.
“With UK economic growth flatlining in the last few months, the prospect of a summer of sport to lift the spirits could be just the tonic the economy needs.”
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