Later opening hours for Oxfordshire pubs during World Cup

The Home Office has confirmed that pub trading hours will be extended to three more early evening fixtures during this summer’s men’s FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A total of 13 matches involving England or Scotland could potentially be included in the national pub licensing hours extension.

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Licensed premises in England and Scotland were previously granted permission to extend their hours to 1am or 2am for fixtures kicking off between 8pm and 10pm for any home nation knockout.

Now, pubs will be allowed to stay open an extra two hours until 1am for round of 32, the first knockout stage, and round of 16 games, the second knockout stage, kicking off between 5pm and 9pm.

Last orders will be pushed back to 2am for matches starting between 9pm and 10pm.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the power to extend licensing hours for events of “exceptional international, national or local significance”.

She said: “If our boys are on the pitch we want our fans to stay in the pub. So we’re giving pubs and bars an open goal to serve punters long after the last penalty hits the back of the net.

“We won’t have fans coming home before football does.”

Similar extensions were previously used for the Women’s Euro 2025 tournament and Men’s Euro 2024 final.