Three Lions fans will be able to sink a few pints in the pub in the early hours of Monday as Sir Keir Starmer has announced that opening times will be changed for England vs Mexico
Pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am for the England-Mexico World Cup match that kicks off at 1am on Monday (July 6), Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
MPs had called for leeway beyond the 2am extended pub opening hours already in place for England matches during the Football World Cup.
The outgoing PM said it would be "great for pubs" if Three Lions fans to go out and watch the game that starts in the early hours of a work day for many. Starmer posted a video message announcing the decision and issued a statement.
The PM said: "Football might be coming home but we're making sure fans don't have to.
"Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.
"The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!”
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 (July 1).
Monday’s match is not covered by existing measures to extend pub hours for England matches until 2am, and would run past that time anyway.
Now the blanket extension means individual pubs do not need to apply for extended hours. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has written to council leaders informing them of the changes.
Before the announcement, he had earlier urged them to sign off on pubs extending their hours to allow fans to watch to the end of the match, after claiming there were “still some councils that are saying no to the pubs”.
Many of the hospitality and pub sector have backed Starmer's decision as a real boost for pubs across England.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: "This is fantastic news and will be hugely welcomed by operators. The government has listened to the overwhelming public support for England and recognised the challenges facing pubs and licensed premises across the country.
"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, CEO 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."
Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, said: "England’s march towards World Cup glory is something millions of fans want to support.
“This very welcome announcement from the government allows those that want to enjoy the game in pubs and other hospitality venues to get together to cheer on our Three Lions.”