World Cup 2026 Licensing: Can Pubs Stay Open Late?
- Simon Francis
- May 27
- 5 min read
World Cup 2026 Licensing: Can Pubs Stay Open Late?-What licensed premises need to know before showing World Cup matches
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is expected to create a major trading opportunity for pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs and other licensed premises across England and Wales.
With the tournament being hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico, some matches are likely to be shown later in the evening UK time. That means many premises will be asking the same question:
Can we stay open late for World Cup 2026 matches?
The answer is: possibly — but not for every premises, not for every match, and not without checking your licence first.
The Government has confirmed a relaxation of licensing hours for England and Wales for certain 2026 World Cup matches involving qualifying home nations during the knockout stages. However, this is not a blanket permission for all licensed premises to trade late throughout the whole tournament.
Watch: World Cup 2026 Pub Licensing Explained
Before you plan your World Cup events, watch our short explainer video on what the licensing hours relaxation may mean for pubs, bars and licensed venues.
What is the World Cup 2026 licensing hours relaxation?
The licensing hours relaxation is intended to allow communities to watch qualifying home nation matches at licensed premises during later stages of the tournament.
For England and Wales, the Government has stated that licensing hours will be extended when a qualifying home nation is playing in certain knockout-stage matches.
This applies to:
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Bronze medal match
Final
It does not automatically apply to every match in the tournament.
What extended hours apply?
For matches covered by the national licensing hours order, the extension is expected to operate as follows:
For kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm, licensing hours are extended from 11pm to 1am
For kick-offs after 9pm and up to 10pm, licensing hours are extended from 11pm to 2am
Matches starting before 5pm or after 10pm do not benefit from the national extension
This means some premises may still need to consider a Temporary Event Notice, commonly known as a TEN, if they want to trade outside their normal authorised hours.
Does this mean all pubs can stay open late?
No.
This is one of the most important points for premises licence holders and designated premises supervisors to understand.
The World Cup licensing extension is not a free-for-all. It does not automatically override every issue on your premises licence.
You should check:
Whether your premises is in England or Wales
Whether your licence already permits alcohol sales up to 11pm
Whether your licence authorises alcohol for consumption on the premises
Whether the relevant match is actually covered by the relaxation
Whether your licence conditions still restrict what you can do
Whether late night refreshment is needed after 11pm
Whether regulated entertainment is authorised
Whether your premises needs door supervisors, CCTV, dispersal arrangements or noise controls
Even if the extension applies, your licence conditions will still matter.
Does the extension apply to off-licences?
In most cases, no.
The World Cup licensing relaxation is aimed at the on-trade, such as pubs, bars, restaurants and similar premises selling alcohol for consumption on the premises.
Off-licences, convenience stores and supermarkets should not assume they can sell alcohol later because of the World Cup. If an off-licence wants to extend its hours, it may need a formal variation or another appropriate licensing route.
If you operate an off-licence and are unsure about your authorised alcohol hours, you should check your premises licence before changing your trading arrangements.
When might a Temporary Event Notice still be needed?
A Temporary Event Notice may still be required if your planned World Cup event falls outside what your premises licence allows.
You may need a TEN if:
The match is not covered by the national extension
You want to sell alcohol later than your licence permits
You want to provide late night refreshment after 11pm
You want to provide regulated entertainment not covered by your licence
You are planning an outdoor screening or special event area
You want to use a different part of the premises not covered by the licence
Your premises is not already licensed to the relevant terminal hour
You want to continue trading beyond the extended hours
TENs are subject to strict notice periods and limits. Leaving it too late can cause problems, especially if police or environmental health raise concerns.
Why licence conditions still matter
Even where a national licensing extension applies, premises must continue to promote the four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003:
The prevention of crime and disorder
Public safety
The prevention of public nuisance
The protection of children from harm
Your premises may also have specific conditions covering:
CCTV
Door supervisors
Incident logs
Refusals logs
Challenge 25
Staff training
Noise control
Dispersal
Capacity management
Outdoor areas
Waste collections
Opening hours
Alcohol display or service arrangements
World Cup events can bring extra footfall, higher alcohol consumption, noise complaints and crowd management issues. That means good planning is essential.
Practical checklist for pubs, bars and venues
Before advertising late-night World Cup events, licensed premises should check the following:
1. Check your premises licence
Look at your authorised hours for:
Sale of alcohol
Opening hours
Late night refreshment
Regulated entertainment
Do not assume your opening hours and alcohol hours are the same.
2. Check whether the match is covered
The national extension only applies to certain knockout-stage matches involving qualifying home nations. Group-stage matches are not automatically covered.
3. Check your conditions
Some premises may have conditions that still affect trading, even during a national extension.
Examples include:
Doors and windows to remain closed after a certain time
No use of outside areas after a particular hour
Door staff required after a certain time
CCTV to be operational
Incident and refusals logs to be maintained
Staff to receive licensing training
4. Consider noise and dispersal
Late-night football screenings can cause complaints if customers leave noisily, gather outside, or use outdoor smoking areas without proper supervision.
You may need a clear dispersal policy.
5. Brief your staff
Staff should understand:
Challenge 25
Refusals
Proxy sales
Dealing with intoxicated customers
Incident logging
Licence conditions
When to stop serving alcohol
6. Consider whether a TEN is needed
If the extension does not cover your planned event, a Temporary Event Notice may be required.
Why planning early matters
World Cup 2026 could be a significant opportunity for licensed premises, but it also creates licensing risk.
Planning early can help you:
Avoid last-minute TEN problems
Reduce the risk of licence breaches
Prevent complaints from residents
Prepare staff properly
Protect your premises licence
Maximise trade legally and safely
If you wait until match week, it may be too late to resolve licensing issues properly.
Need a World Cup licensing check?
Licensing Professionals can help pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and event venues prepare for World Cup 2026.
We can help with:
Premises licence checks
Temporary Event Notices
Licence variation advice
Event licensing planning
Licence condition reviews
Staff licensing training recommendations
Compliance checks before major sporting events
World Cup 2026 Licensing: Can Pubs Stay Open Late?
The World Cup licensing extension may help some pubs and bars trade later during key matches, but it does not remove the need for proper planning.
Before advertising late-night screenings or extended trading, check your premises licence, conditions, match times and whether a TEN is needed.
For professional licensing support, contact Licensing Professionals today.
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