UK extends pub hours to 30 minutes after England-Norway match

The British government has granted pubs in England and Wales a special extension to remain open until 30 minutes after the final whistle of England's World Cup quarterfinal match against Norway on Saturday, July 11, even if the kickoff is delayed. The move provides certainty for fans and venues after a weather delay disrupted England's previous knockout match.

The match is scheduled for a 10 p.m. BST kickoff at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Ministers had already extended standard licensing hours to 2 a.m. for the late start but have now implemented a flexible rule tied directly to the conclusion of the game. Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the extension guarantees that England fans can watch every minute of the quarterfinal together. She referenced the weather delay before England's last-16 match against Mexico, which started an hour late in the early hours of Monday, July 6, due to storms at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. Licensing hours were similarly adjusted for that match, which England won 3-2.

Officials cited renewed concerns over potential weather disruptions for the Norway game. The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a hazardous heat warning for the...