Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed pubs can stay open for England’s 1am clash against Mexico on Monday morning.
The outgoing Prime Minister announced on Thursday he is “making sure” pubs will be be able to stay open late for England’s second knockout stage match of the tournament.
England will face Mexico in the Round of 16 at the Fifa World Cup after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday.
Monday’s match had not been covered by existing measures to extend pub hours for England matches until 2am, and would run past that time anyway.
But Sir Keir confirmed that pubs will stay open as late as 5am as the Three Lions take on hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
In a video posted to X, the PM said: “We’re making sure pubs can stay open on Monday morning, early on Monday morning, for the England game.
“So I know lots of people are making their plans, if you’re planning to watch it in the pub that is great and it is really good for pubs as well. So come on England.”
News of the extension was welcomed by those in the pub trade.Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: “This pragmatic approach allows venues to focus on what matters most – bringing communities together to support the national team.“
Major sporting occasions like this deliver a significant boost to hospitality businesses while creating an atmosphere that unites the country.
“As England heads into one of the biggest games of the tournament, let’s get behind the team, support our local venues, and give the country something positive to celebrate.“We hope this weekend marks not only a memorable occasion for England on the pitch, but also a much-needed boost for our hospitality sector and the communities it serves.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ”Pubs and fans will be over the moon about this decision, because we all know the best place to watch the match is down the local.
“This tournament is hugely important for our sector, so we’re delighted the Government listened to our concerns and acted so quickly.
“Now we can carry on being the home of live sport and welcoming fans through the door.”
It is normally up to councils to decide whether pubs can stay open late to allow fans to watch the end of the match. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had urged them to sign off on extended hours amid fears they would not be open during the game.
Earlier, the Liberal Democrats called for a blanket extension for licensing hours, but No 10 said “it is for local councils to make those decisions”.
Bur Mr Reed has now written to council leaders informing them of the changes.
Pubs will need a temporary event notice to show the match at all, as earlier licensing extensions only apply to matches that kick off between 9pm and 10pm.
