The UK government has extended pub licensing hours until 5am BST on Monday, July 6, to accommodate fans watching the England vs Mexico World Cup last-16 match kicking off at 1am BST in Mexico City [1, 2].
Previously, pubs could remain open until 2am for late kick-offs, but the 1am start of this match required further extension [3]. Due to the late confirmation of the round of 16 fixture, pubs could not apply for the normally required Temporary Event Notice (TEN), which must be filed at least 5 working days in advance [3, 2]. The government invoked emergency powers under the Licensing Act to temporarily relax these rules for this specific match [2].
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, emphasized ongoing dialogue with the government, saying, "We remain in close contact with government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven't got TENs in place. It would be a crying shame for fans and pubs if our locals weren't able to host such an important match" [3].
England coach Thomas Tuchel encouraged parents to allow children to stay up late to watch the game, joking, "Write an excuse for school and let them watch" [4]. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office clarified that children should still attend school as usual on Monday despite the late match [1]. Some schools plan to show a replay of the match during school hours or manage attendance so students can watch without missing lessons [4]. For example, Malmesbury Primary School, with 420 students, aims to balance schooling with the event [4].
This extension follows an earlier government relaxation in April 2026 that allowed pubs to stay open later for England and Scotland World Cup matches starting between 5pm and 10pm [3]. England secured their place in the Round of 16 after a 2-1 win over DR Congo on July 2 [1].
The England vs Mexico match kicks off at 1am BST on July 6, with pubs in England and Wales allowed to remain open to 5am to show the game live [3, 4, 1, 2].
