OpenLegislation

The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026

S.I. 2026/520 · Made 12 May 2026 · Extends to England and Wales

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 11 July 2026.

LICENCES AND LICENSING, ENGLAND AND WALES

Made 12th May 2026

Laid before Parliament 18th May 2026

Coming into force 8th June 2026

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 172(1) and (3)(b), (3)(c) and 197(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003f1.

The Secretary of State considers that the celebration period in relation to which this Order is made marks an occasion of exceptional national significance.

The Secretary of State has consulted such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in accordance with section 172(4) of the Licensing Act 2003.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2003 c. 17. Section 197(3), (4) and (5) of the Licensing Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) were amended by section 1 of the Licensing Hours Extensions Act 2026 (c. 4).

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent
  2. 2Specified times
  3. 3Licensing hours
  4. Signature
  5. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement, interpretation and extentI1

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026 and comes into force on 8th June 2026.

(2)

In this Order—

  • “celebration period” means the period beginning with 29th June 2026 and ending on 20th July 2026;

  • “home nation team” means a men’s senior football team representing England or Scotland;

  • “specified relaxation period” means the parts of the celebration period set out in article 2;

  • “tournament” means the tournament known as the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)f1 World Cup 2026 held in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.

(3)

This Order extends to England and Wales.

2Specified timesI1

F1(1)

For the purposes of article 3, the “specified times” are—

(a)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 29th June 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(b)

the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 29th June 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 9.30 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(c)

the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 30th June 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(d)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 1st July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(e)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 4th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(f)

the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 4th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

F2(g)

the period of seven hours beginning at 10 p.m. on 5th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 1 a.m. on 6th July 2026;

(h)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 6th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(i)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 7th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(j)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 9th July 2026, where a match in the tournament quarter-final stage is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(k)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 10th July 2026, where a match in the tournament quarter-final stage is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(l)

the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 11th July 2026, where a match in the tournament quarter-final stage is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(m)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 14th July 2026, where a match in the tournament semi-final stage is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(n)

the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 15th July 2026, where a match in the tournament semi-final match is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(o)

the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 18th July 2026, where the tournament third-place play-off match is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match; and

(p)

the period of F3three hours beginning at F410 p.m. on 19th July 2026, where the final match of the tournament is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match.

F5(2)

Where the conditions in paragraph (3) are satisfied, the end of the period in sub-paragraphs (l) to (p) of paragraph (1) is extended to the earlier of—

(a)

thirty minutes after the conclusion (or abandonment) of the match referred to in the relevant sub-paragraph, or

(b)

12 noon on the day following the day on which the match begins.

(3)

The conditions in this paragraph are—

(a)

a match referred to in sub-paragraphs (l) to (p) of paragraph (1), has begun in the period starting with the scheduled start time referred to in the relevant sub-paragraph and ending at 12 noon the next day, and

(b)

the conclusion of the match is delayed so that the match will not conclude before thirty minutes before the end of the period specified in that sub-paragraph.

(4)

Where a match referred to in sub-paragraphs (l) to (p) of paragraph (1) is—

(a)

postponed to begin on a day other than the day on which it was scheduled to start (except where the conditions in paragraph (3) are satisfied), or

(b)

abandoned and later resumed, or re-played, on a day other than the day on which it was scheduled to start,

the period specified in paragraph (5) is also a “specified time” for the purposes of article 3.

(5)

The period specified in this paragraph is the period in relation to the day on which the match is played, resumed or re-played which—

(a)

begins—

(i)

on a Sunday, at 10 p.m.,

(ii)

on all other days, at 11 p.m., and

(b)

ends at the later of—

(i)

1 a.m. the following day, or

(ii)

thirty minutes after the conclusion of the match referred to in paragraph (4).

3Licensing hoursI1

(1)

Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), premises licencesf1 and club premises certificatesf2 to which paragraph (2) applies have effect (to the extent that it is not already the case) during the specified relaxation period as if the specified times were included in the opening hoursf3.

(2)

This paragraph applies to premises licences and club premises certificates by virtue of which the opening hours immediately precede or continue into the specified times.

(3)

The opening hours are not to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times insofar as they relate to the use of premises for—

(a)

the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises;

(b)

the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises; or

(c)

the provision of regulated entertainmentf4.

(4)

In relation to the use of premises for the provision of late night refreshmentf5, the opening hours are only to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times if the premises may also be used at those times for—

(a)

the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on the premises; or

(b)

the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption on the premises.

Signature

Sarah Jones

Minister of State

Home Office

12th May 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for the extension of licensing hours for licensed premises and clubs on the days of specified matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, comprising matches in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 and the round of 16, and quarter final, semi final and final matches, where a men’s senior team representing England or Scotland plays in that match.

The Secretary of State considers the period beginning with the first such match, and ending on the day after the final match of the tournament, to be a celebration period for the purposes of section 172(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17).

The specified times are set out in article 2 and will only apply if a men’s senior team representing England or Scotland plays in a specified match.

Article 3(2) provides that the Order applies only to premises licences and club premises certificates where the opening hours authorised by the licence or certificate immediately precede or continue into the specified times.

Article 3(3) provides that the Order does not apply to the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises, the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises, or the provision of regulated entertainment.

Article 3(4) provides that the Order permits premises to be used for the provision of late night refreshment at the specified times only where, at those times, the premises may also be used for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. An economic note is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk and is also available from the Alcohol Policy Team of the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.