Pubs could stay open for extra time next summer should a home nation reach the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final of the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026.

Today (Thursday 4 December) the government kicks off a six week public consultation on extending pub licensing hours in England and Wales to allow fans to come together and support the home nations.

The consultation proposes a potential extension to licensing hours for the semi-finals and final until 1:00am, if matches kick-off at 9:00pm or earlier. It is the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations: the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.

The Home Secretary has the legislative power to extend these hours on occasions of “exceptional international, national or local significance”, such as the Women’s 2025 Euro, the

See Full Page