The move comes as MPs have been lobbying for a leeway to go beyond the 2am extended pub opening times for the England match on Monday
Sir Keir Starmer has said pubs across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open as late as 5am on Monday in anticipation of the late kick-off for England.
The Three Lions are preparing to face off against Mexico in Round 16 of the World Cup in Mexico City on Monday, with kick-off at 1am BST.
Today, the PM granted extended opening hours for pubs, allowing them to continue serving the public throughout the duration of the game up until 5am.
It comes as MPs had called for leeway beyond the 2am extended pub opening hours already in place for England matches during the Football World Cup.
Starmer said it would be “great for pubs” for Three Lions fans to go out and watch the game that starts in the early hours of a work day for many.
England will face Mexico after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday, with the next game in Mexico City beginning at 1am BST and will not finish until after the previous extended hours provision.
The Prime Minister said: “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to.
“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.
“The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!”
The blanket extension means individual pubs do not need to apply for extended hours. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has written to council leaders informing them of the changes.
Before the announcement, he had earlier urged them to sign off on pubs extending their hours to allow fans to watch to the end of the match, after claiming there were “still some councils that are saying no to the pubs”. News of the extension was welcomed by those in the pub trade.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: “This pragmatic approach allows venues to focus on what matters most – bringing communities together to support the national team. Major sporting occasions like this deliver a significant boost to hospitality businesses while creating an atmosphere that unites the country.
“As England heads into one of the biggest games of the tournament, let’s get behind the team, support our local venues, and give the country something positive to celebrate. We hope this weekend marks not only a memorable occasion for England on the pitch, but also a much-needed boost for our hospitality sector and the communities it serves.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ”Pubs and fans will be over the moon about this decision, because we all know the best place to watch the match is down the local. This tournament is hugely important for our sector, so we’re delighted the Government listened to our concerns and acted so quickly.
“Now we can carry on being the home of live sport and welcoming fans through the door.”
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