World Cup 2026: Is Your Licensed Premises Ready?

With the fixtures now officially announced for the Summer 2026 World Cup, the countdown for the hospitality industry has begun. While it may seem early, the unique kick-off times for this tournament mean that pub operators must act now to ensure they can legally broadcast every moment of the action.

The Midnight Challenge: Kick-off Times

Because the tournament is hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the UK will face significant time zone differences. Games are scheduled to kick off as early as 5:00 PM, but many high-profile fixtures will start as late as 2:30 AM UK time.

When planning your trading hours, remember to factor in:

• Duration: Knockout games can last up to 4 hours including extra time and penalties.
• Licensable Activities: Ensure your permission for the sale of alcohol and "late-night refreshment" (hot food/drink) aligns with these late finishes.

Maximising Outdoor Spaces

Projector screens and temporary outdoor bars have become staples of the tournament experience. However, these often come with specific pitfalls:

• Time Restrictions: Check your premises licence for "garden" or "outdoor area" curfews.
• External Bars: Ensure your "licensed area" (the red line on your plan) actually covers the garden where you intend to serve.

Government Support

The Government has introduced a contingent Licensing Hours Order for England and Wales, enabling communities to come together at local licensed premises to support qualifying home nations (England and Scotland) beyond the group stages of the tournament.

Where a home nation is playing, licensing hours are extended as follows:

• From 11:00pm to 1:00am for matches with a kick‑off between 5:00pm and 9:00pm
• From 11:00pm to 2:00am for matches with a kick‑off after 9:00pm and up to 10:00pm

These extensions apply to the following stages of the competition:

• Round of 32
• Round of 16
• Quarter‑finals
• Semi‑finals
• Bronze medal match
• Final

Matches starting before 5:00pm or after 10:00pm do not benefit from the national extension. In these circumstances, individual licensed on‑trade premises may apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) if they wish to remain open later.

Where no home nation is playing in a qualifying match, the Licensing Hours Order does not apply.

The Order allows licensed premises that are already authorised to trade until 11:00pm in England and Wales and 

• for kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm an extension between 11pm until 1am 
• for kick-offs after 9pm and up to 10pm an extension between 11pm until 2am

for the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises, and for the provision of late‑night refreshment, subject to their existing premises licence conditions.

The Solution: Temporary Event Notices (TENs)

The Government’s national licensing support measures do not cover every possible scenario. As a result, certain events, extended hours, variations from existing licence conditions, use of unlicensed areas, and additional licensable activities may still need to be authorised by a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). However, these are subject to strict statutory limits:

• Usage Limits: A single premises can only hold 15 TENs per year.
• Duration: Each event can last no more than 168 hours (7 days).
• The 24-Hour Rule: There must be a minimum of 24 hours between separate TENs.
• Annual Cap: A premises is limited to a total of 21 days covered by TENs per calendar year.

Act Now to Avoid Disappointment

While a "Standard TEN" requires a minimum of 10 working days' notice, and a ‘Late’ TEN 5 working days’ notice, we strongly advise against leaving issuing a TEN to the last minute. If the police or Environmental Health object to a late TEN, there will be no time to negotiate or hold a hearing.

Furthermore, if you require permanent changes to your licence (a Variation), the process can take two months or more. Early action is a necessity to ensure your business doesn't miss out on the biggest sporting event of the year.

England’s Possible Route to the Final

Times England Games Start depending on where they finish in the group:

Group Games - Not covered by the Government's National licensing support measures

Knock-out Rounds

Expert Licensing Advice

If you are unsure whether your current licence covers the 2026 fixtures or need professional assistance managing your TEN applications, our team is here to help.

Contact our licensing experts today at 0114 266 8664.