FOOTBALL fever has officially gripped the nation after Harry Kane’s dramatic late goals against DR Congo fired the Three Lions into the World Cup Round of 16.
Thomas Tuchel’s men are marching on to face Mexico this Monday (June 6), but millions of bleary-eyed fans have been left facing a total nightmare.
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Harry Kane celebrates after scoring against DR Congo at the Atlanta Stadium on July 1 Credit: Getty
Millions of England fans packed out pubs for the win over DR Congo – though the game did kick off at a much more palatable 5pm BST Credit: Getty
The high-stakes clash kicks off at 1am UK time on Monday morning.
Supporters have been begging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to grant a snap Bank Holiday Monday so the nation can recover from what promises to be an epic and potentially booze-fuelled night of tension.
Fans have pointed out that Scotland got a long weekend, so why shouldn’t England fans get a proper lie-in to back the boys?
Sadly, Downing Street has given a firm “no” to a day off, meaning millions face a Monday morning hangover from hell at their desks.
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The Round of 16 Mexico game kick off at 1am in the early hours of Monday (June 6) morning – which is why many are calling for an extra Bank Holiday Credit: AFP
What are the license laws for England’s World Cup 2026 games?
Earlier this summer, the Government threw football fans a lifeline.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood brought in The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026.
The nationwide rule allows boozers across England and Wales to extend their opening hours automatically for major knockout matches.
Usually, pub landlords have to wade through red tape and pay heavy fees to keep the pints flowing past their standard closing times.
But under these special World Cup laws, if England is playing a knockout match that kicks off between 5pm and 9pm, pubs can legally stay open until 1am.
Even better, for later games starting between 9pm and 10pm, last orders are pushed back to 2am.
The Home Office called it an “open goal” to help the hospitality industry and let fans celebrate together without getting ushered out mid-penalty shootout.
Will pubs be able to open at 1am Monday morning?
Yes! Sir Keir Starmer has announced that all pubs and bars will be able to stay open until 5am for England’s last-16 clash against Mexico.
It means fans wanting to watch the Three Lions in their local now will be able to.
In an announcement on Thursday afternoon, the outgoing PM confirmed all pubs and bars will be able to stay open until 5am.
Starmer said: “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to.
“Pubs staying open until 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.”
Footie-mad Sir Keit spent the afternoon exploring options to extend that universal lifting of restrictions for a one-off.
The deadline to apply for a Temporary Event Notice passed earlier this week before it was guaranteed that England would make the last 16.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed is writing to council leaders informing them of these changes – which is a big boost for fans ahead of the huge clash.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said:”This is fantastic news and will be hugely welcomed by operators.
“The Government has listened to the overwhelming public support for England and recognised the challenges facing pubs and licensed premises across the country.
“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.”
World Cup 2026 – all the info
IT’S A KNOCKOUT
The knockout stages of the World Cup are hotting up.
England believe football might finally be coming home after 60 years of hurt, with Harry Kane on fire.
But the likes of France, Spain, Brazil and Argentina are all serious contenders to go all the way.
Heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands have both been knocked out on penalties in the Round of 32.
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How to check if your local pub is open
Nobody wants to wander the streets looking for a pint at midnight.
To ensure your local boozer is screening the match, your first port of call should be their social media pages.
Most pubs will loudly advertise if they’ve bagged a special late-night license for the 1am kickoff.
You can also use online sports pub finders like FANZO, which update in real-time to show which venues are open for late-night World Cup action.
If you’re still unsure, pop into your local over the weekend and ask the landlord directly.
If the option is there, make sure to book a table, because spaces will disappear fast.
