Pubs allowed to stay open until 5am for England Mexico match
BBC News 2026-07-02 16:22:39
Context: Pubs in England and Wales were allowed to stay open until 5am on Monday to accommodate football fans watching the England vs Mexico World Cup match. The match, set to kick off at 1am UK time in Mexico City, was not expected to finish until after 3am. This decision was made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reversed the government's initial stance on not extending licensing hours further.
Key Facts
- The England vs Mexico World Cup round-of-16 match was scheduled to take place in Mexico City, kicking off at 1am UK time on Monday.
- Pubs in England and Wales were initially required to apply to their local council for extended opening hours, at least five working days in advance, but were allowed to stay open until 5am for this specific match.
- The British Beer and Pub Association's chief executive, Emma McClarkin, welcomed the change, stating that "we all know the best place to watch the match is down the local".
- The government's initial decision not to extend licensing hours further for the World Cup had been relaxed, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing the new 5am closing time on Thursday afternoon.
- Licensing hours had already been extended for the World Cup from 11pm to 1am for games with kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm and up until 2am for kick-offs after 9pm.