England fans across the country will be able to cheer on the Three Lions in their World Cup quarter-final against Norway without worrying about last orders. The government has announced extended licensing hours, allowing pubs and bars in England and Wales to remain open for 30 minutes after the final whistle, even if the match experiences a delayed start.
The quarter-final, scheduled for a 22:00 BST kick-off at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, faces potential delays due to the extreme heat conditions prevalent in the co-host nation. This blanket extension by the Home Office provides certainty for both venues and supporters, ensuring no one misses a moment of the action, a concern highlighted after England's match against Mexico on 2 July was delayed by an hour due to storms.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones emphasised the importance of fans being able to watch the entire game together. "England fans deserve the chance to watch every minute of the quarter-final together, and that is exactly what our extension guarantees," she stated. Jones expressed hope that pubs and bars would be "packed" as England aims to progress further in the tournament.
The decision to extend hours comes as a response to the logistical challenges posed by the World Cup's location. High temperatures and humidity in Miami are expected to be significant, with the National Weather Service issuing a heat advisory for the city. While the forecast wet bulb temperature for Miami is currently 27C, just below the 28C threshold where players' union Fifpro recommends delaying matches, the risk of storms also remains, with lightning within eight miles of the stadium automatically triggering a 30-minute delay.
This latest extension builds upon previous licensing hour adjustments made for the World Cup, which saw venues permitted to stay open until 01:00 for games kicking off between 17:00 and 21:00, and until 02:00 for those starting between 21:00 and 22:00. The Home Secretary holds the authority to implement such extensions during events of "exceptional international, national or local significance."