UK set for major World Cup win as pubs get all clear to extend opening hours for summer tournament

Yosua Arya Thu, 19 February 2026 at 10:11 am UTC·4 min read Home Secretary shows red tape the red card The UK government has officially moved to "show red tape the red card" by allowing pubs to remain open later during the 2026 World Cup. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that licensing restrictions will be eased for every knockout tie featuring a home nation. This decision marks a departure from previous, more restrictive proposals that would have only triggered such extensions if a team reached the quarter-finals.Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new guidelines, venues will be permitted to stay open until 1am for most knockout fixtures. However,...