Pubs in the UK will allowed to stay open later during the FIFA World Cup 2026 if the any of the home nations reach the knockout stages of the tournament.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that pubs will be able to apply for extended opening hours for the knockout round of the tournament, which takes place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

Pubs will also be able to apply for a temporary licence for any late kick-off that finish beyond 2am. There is a five-to-eight-hour time difference to the USA, Canada, and Mexico, meaning that some matches will be played throughout the night for UK-based fans.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that pubs will be granted extended opening hours if the Home Nations reach the knockout stages of the World Cup 2026. | AFP via Getty Images

placeholder image — Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that pubs will be granted extended opening hours if the Home Nations reach the knockout stages of the World Cup 2026. | AFP via Getty Images

Ms Mahmood said: “With later kick‑offs at this year’s World Cup, we don’t want pubs to blow the final whistle before the winning goal. So we’re showing red tape the red card and taking pub hours to extra time so fans can get another round in without missing a single kick.

“We’re toasting our boys at the World Cup and our locals this summer. Fans won’t need to go home, before football’s come home.”

Opening times will be extended to 1am for most knockout stage fixtures, but this will be extended to 2am for any 10pm kick-offs.

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, the The Sun that this move was “a win for pubs, jobs and community spirit”.

England and Scotland have already qualified for the World Cup 2025, with Wales and Northern Ireland to play in a playoff match in a hope of joining the tournament.

England’s qualifiers will see the Three Lions take on Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The full fixture dates and times for England’s group stage are below:

England vs Croatia - June 17, Dallas, 9pm (UK time)
England vs Ghana - June 23, Boston, 9pm (UK time)
Panama vs England - June 27, New York-New Jersey, 10pm (UK time)

Scotland’s group matches have late starts for fans watching at home - you can find the full list of fixtures below:

Haiti vs Scotland - June 14, Boston, 2am (UK time)
Scotland vs Morocco - June 19, Boston, 11pm (UK time)
Scotland vs Brazil - June 24, Miami, 11pm (UK time)

The news comes after it was revealed that pubs in Glasgow will be allowed to stay open extra late for Scotland fans to watch their national team play in their first World Cup in 28 years. Club, pubs and other venues that show live sport will be granted temporary permission to stay open 30 minutes after full-time for the duration of the tournament.

Therefore, boozers in the Scottish city won’t be forced to close their doors until 4.15am for Scotland’s first World Cup match in almost three decades. Other council areas in Scotland have also said that they will grant late licences, including Aberdeen.