Keir Starmer moved on Mexico vs England time on Thursday, promising an emergency legal measure so pubs and bars in England and Wales can stay open until 5 a.m. for the 1 a.m. Monday World Cup kickoff against Mexico. The change answers publicans who said rigid licensing rules could keep them shut for one of England's biggest nights.
Starmer said, “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to” and added, “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.” Those hours go well beyond the usual 11 p.m. cutoff for serving booze.
England And Wales Get The Exception
The legal move applies across England and Wales and stretches well past the 2 a.m. relaxation already used once in the tournament for England and Scotland matches. It gives venues a blanket permission for this match rather than leaving them to work around the usual closing rules one by one.
That matters because the game was set for 1 a.m. Monday in Britain and could run past 4 a.m. if it goes to penalties. For pubs, the practical question is simple: whether to pay staff, keep the doors open and trade through the night, or close early and miss the crowd.
Thomas Tuchel Pushes School Lines
Thomas Tuchel added his own piece to the build-up, telling a press conference that parents should “write an excuse for school and let them watch football.” Baroness Smith, meanwhile, said, “All of us need to go into work on Monday to celebrate England’s victory against Mexico.”
That framing follows a run-up in which England was scheduled to play Mexico at Azteca Stadium on Sunday, with British newspapers already treating the night like a national all-nighter. The government’s move turns the match from a late kick-off into a licensing test for venues across two countries.
Police Chiefs Raise Alarm
The National Police Chiefs’ Council welcomed the need to adapt but warned that “We also know from previous tournaments, the knock-out games sadly see an increase in violent incidents, particularly in the night-time economy, and an increase in domestic abuse.” It added, “This is directly linked to alcohol consumption.”
Police also said the change “leaves policing having to adapt our plans, seeing officers working extended shifts, which in turn takes them away from communities.” The British Beer and Pub Association said pubs “will be over the moon about this decision,” while the Night Time Industries Association said the move will give a “significant boost to hospitality businesses.”
The question now is how many pubs and bars will actually use the 5 a.m. permission. Fans have the window, venues have the license, and the night has been opened wide enough to run from kickoff deep into Monday morning.
