Some licensed premises may be able to stay open later during the later stages of the 2026 World Cup if a Home Nation team is playing.
Extended hours for Home Nation matches
Under the proposed Licensing Hours Order, licensed premises may extend hours for the sale of alcohol on the premises when England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland are playing in the later stages of the tournament.
The extensions are expected to apply as follows:
- until 1am for any quarter-final, semi-final or final with a kick-off at or before 9pm (BST)
- until 2am for any quarter-final with a 10pm (BST) kick-off
- matches starting after 10pm (BST) are not included in the extension and will require a temporary event notice (TEN) to stay open later
Detailed match schedules and TEN deadlines for different scenarios are available in the guidance document.
When you may need a temporary event notice
You will need a TEN if you want to:
- extend hours for matches not covered by the national extension
- stay open later during earlier stages of the tournament, including group matches and the last 32
- cover late kick-off matches outside the permitted hours
Government proposals indicate that TENs may not be required for extending hours from the later knockout stages onwards, depending on when the match is played.
Apply for a temporary event notice (TEN)
TEN deadlines during the tournament
If you plan to rely on a TEN, you must apply in advance. Deadlines will vary depending on the match date and kick-off time.
Examples from the tournament schedule include:
- for early knockout matches (last 32), standard TEN deadlines fall in mid to late June, with late TENs available closer to the match date
- different progression scenarios (for example, depending on whether a team finishes first, second or third in the group) may affect when TENs are required and the latest application dates
You should check the full schedule and plan applications early to avoid missing deadlines.