Councils in England are being encouraged by Downing Street to permit pubs to remain open for the early morning World Cup game on Monday. The Three Lions are set to play against Mexico at 1am in the Round of 16 following their 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday.
While measures have been approved for pubs to extend their opening hours until 2am for England matches starting between 9pm and 10pm during the knockout stages, this does not apply to Monday’s match. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has reached out to councils to support allowing pubs to prolong their hours, enhancing fans’ chances of watching the game at their local pub.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson stated that the Secretary of State for Housing and Communities has urged councils to approve requests from pubs to further extend their hours for late matches, ensuring fans can fully enjoy the football experience. Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson has called for a universal extension to licensing hours for the upcoming game, emphasizing the economic benefits for pubs.
Business Minister Kate Dearden praised Harry Kane for his outstanding performance and expressed support for extending pub hours after matches to accommodate fans. The potential for a bank holiday if England emerges victorious in the World Cup has been hinted at by Keir Starmer, although the current government has not committed to this possibility.
Looking ahead, plans for a potential bank holiday if England wins the World Cup are uncertain, with previous calls for a holiday following the Lionesses’ success in the Euros final in 2022 not resulting in an official commitment from No10.
