Pubs across England and Wales will be permitted to remain open until 5am on Monday, July 6, to show the England vs Mexico World Cup match. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday, July 2.
Match Details and Timing
The match will take place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, kicking off at 6pm local time on Sunday evening, which corresponds to 1am UK time on Monday. This late kick-off time is due to the significant time difference between Mexico and the UK.
Throughout the FIFA World Cup, pubs in England have been allowed to extend their licensing hours until 1am or 2am for later kick-offs. However, the government had previously stated that the 2am rule applied only to matches kicking off between 9pm and 10pm. Since the England vs Mexico match kicks off at 1am, it did not qualify under that rule.
Government Intervention
To address this, Sir Keir Starmer announced a special extension allowing pubs to stay open until 5am for this specific match. According to the Prime Minister, this decision was made to ensure fans could enjoy the game in a social setting despite the late hour.
Landlords who wish to legally show the game must apply directly to their local council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). This process allows pubs to temporarily extend their licensing hours for special occasions.
Background
England's progress to this match follows a tense victory against DR Congo on Wednesday, July 1. The squad will now face Mexico in the next round of the tournament. The match is highly anticipated, with fans expected to flock to pubs across the country to support the team.
The extension of opening hours is a one-time measure for this specific game and does not apply to other matches in the tournament.
