Pubs will stay open until 1am if England reach the Fifa World Cup latter stages

Pubs will stay open until 1am if England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland reach the final stages of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that “the party won’t end before the final whistle is blown”, adding that “if any [home] nation reaches the final stages, we will extend licensing hours”.

The hours extension will be a timely boost for publicans across the country, with City AM last month finding that pubs and bars are closing at their fastest rate this century – the number appointing liquidators or administrators reached nearly 450 in the first 10 months of the year.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The pub has and always

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