Pubs in the UK set to stay open long into the night for World Cup matches

Martin Macdonald

• 19 Feb 2026 09:01 CST
• 3 min read

News

Government officials in the United Kingdom will allow licenses to be granted to pubs to allow them to stay open for some of the knockout fixtures of the 2026 World Cup.

The next World Cup takes place this summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico which means the kick-off times aren't ideal for fans in the UK.

Pubs and bars will be allowed to stay open until 2am at the latest for matches involving the home nations. England and Scotland have already qualified while Wales or Northern Ireland could also make the finals.

The stage is set. Who triumphs? 🏆@aramco | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/21qBVC6KlE

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2025

For the matches going beyond 2am, temporary licenses may be given for those also.

Kick-off times for the knockout fixtures range from 6pm in the evening to 4am the next morning, for viewers in the UK.

Obviously, we won't know the specifics of what countries will play when until the group stage is concluded.

Previously, pubs were only going to be allowed to stay open from the quarter-final stage onwards, but the new license will start from the round of 32 on.

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, called the decision “a win for pubs, jobs and community spirit”.

There will be a blanket lifting of all early shutting times apart from the very, very late games for which pubs will need a temporary license.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “With later kick-offs at this year’s World Cup, we don’t want pubs to blow the final whistle before the winning goal.

“So we’re showing red tape the red card and taking pub hours to extra-time.”

England has been drawn to play Croatia, Ghana and Panama and Scotland will play Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.

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