With the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 underway, a leading legal expert has issued an urgent warning to local publicans and venue operators: the Government’s late-night opening extensions come with a strict catch.
The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026 officially came into force this week. However, in conflict to widespread industry assumptions, it does not grant a blanket extension for the whole tournament. That’s why Monster-Mesh have put together a handy guide to help hospitality venues plan events, speaking to expert, Julie Gowland to clear up any misconceptions around the law.
With the tournament hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, time-zone differences mean that many games will kick off late in the evening or into the night here in the UK. Meaning that venues which are planning to cash in on these fixtures could face immediate legal risks if they misunderstand the new law.
Julie Gowland, Partner, Head of Licensing at Birketts LLP told Monster-Mesh,
“The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026 extends opening hours for licensed premises in England and Wales during key stages of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
“The Order, made on 12 May 2026, came into force on 8 June 2026 and will permits pubs, bars, clubs and other ontrade premises already licensed for onsales of alcohol to stay open later on the days of specified knockout stage matches - the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final but only when England or Scotland are playing. Where this applies, operators will not need to submit a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to benefit from the extended hours.
“The Order does not apply to group stage fixtures and does not extend permissions for regulated entertainment or late night refreshment beyond what a premises is already licensed to provide.”
Millions of fans will want to watch the earlier group games in social venues, but because those games fall outside the statutory extension, normal licensing hours will still apply.
Explaining why venues are feeling the pressure to stretch their trading hours, Julie said,
“The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature several late-evening and overnight kick-off due to time differences. The Regulations extending opening hours for licensed premises in England and Wales will only apply when England or Scotland are playing.”
3 Assumptions Threatening Venues
Local authorities and police hold wide powers to issue 48-hour immediate closure notices, trigger full licence reviews, or pursue criminal prosecutions for non-compliance. Meaning that even well meaning venues who misunderstand the licensing changes are at risk. Julie shares three common misconceptions for the 2026 tournament.
1) National extensions are automatic and apply to all matches
“A frequent misunderstanding is that national extensions to licensing hours, such as those introduced for major sporting events, apply automatically to all premises and all matches. In reality, these extensions are typically limited to specific fixtures and may exclude certain kickoff times, meaning venues may still need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to trade later than usual.”
2) "One-off" matches come with flexible rules
“Another frequent mistake is operating outside of licence permissions, even where temporary extensions are in place. I have seen businesses assume that because it is a “one-off” event there is greater flexibility, but that is rarely the case. Licensing conditions still apply in full, and any variation or extension must be strictly adhered to.”
3) Licensing paperwork can be sorted at the last minute
“Businesses should also avoid assuming they can submit TEN applications at the last minute. There are strict notice periods and limits on how many TENs can be used each year, and late applications can be refused or deemed invalid, especially if objections are made.”
Hospitality operators who need to screen group stage matches or games not involving England or Scotland past their usual licensed hours must act immediately to secure standard Temporary Event Notices (TENs), bearing in mind strict statutory deadlines.
Find out more about event safety and best practice on the Monster-Mesh blog or reach out to Julie Gowland and the team at Birketts LLP for licensing support.