UK Pubs Can Extend Hours to 2 a.m. for 2026 World Cup

British pubs will be permitted to extend their hours until 2 a.m. during the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup if any of the home nations advance, the government announced on Thursday, addressing concerns over late-night matches due to time zone differences with the tournament hosts.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood approved the temporary relaxation of licensing laws, allowing pubs to remain open later than the standard 11 p.m. closing time for fixtures beyond the group stage. For most knockout games, hours can extend to 1 a.m., while matches starting at 10 p.m. UK time may go until 2 a.m. Publicans can also apply for special licenses to accommodate games finishing even later, a measure necessitated by the event's scheduling across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The decision responds to initial worries raised in December when kickoff times were confirmed, as many matches will begin in the evening or late night for UK audiences. Officials noted that early group-stage games for teams like England, starting at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., will not require extensions, but progression to the round of 32 or beyond could lead to clashes as late as 1 a.m. Mahmood explained the...