Pubs and fans watching England have been left in a scramble before the World Cup last-16 tie with Mexico. The match kicks off at 1am on Monday, but ministers have said the current licensing relaxations do not cover that start time. So despite pressure from government figures to keep venues open, the decision sits with local councils and, for some businesses, the deadline for a Temporary Event Notice has already gone.

Steve Reed, the Local Government Secretary, used the weekend to push councils toward approval. He told standard.co.uk: "There are still some councils that are saying no to the pubs, and my message to those councils is please say yes, do everything you can to get those doors open and the fans inside and I will back you all the way."

That political backing is real enough, but it is not the same as a blanket legal change. Kate Dearden, the Business Minister, told BBC Sport that pubs can stay open for extra time around other evening kick-offs, but not this one. "Pubs can stay open for an extra two to three hours depending on how late the match starts so pubs can still open as the game finishes. Regarding Sunday, unfortunately that doesn't apply with the 1am start but going forwards we are absolutely backing our pubs so people can watch and support our lads, and it's coming home hopefully."

The licensing gap around the 1am kick-off

The key detail is simple: existing relaxations cover kick-offs from 5pm to 9pm and later games after 9pm up to 10pm, but not a 1am start. That leaves no automatic route for pubs to trade through the night for this tie.

Some reports have blurred that point by focusing on the wider push to help pubs during the tournament. For this match, the harder reality is local approval. Councils can allow later opening, but venues may need a Temporary Event Notice to do it lawfully.

That is where timing has become a problem. Temporary Event Notices must be submitted no later than five working days beforehand, which means some pubs are already too late to apply. Emma McClarkin of the British Beer and Pub Association told standard.co.uk: "We remain in close contact with Government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven't got Temporary Event Notices in place."

Some establishments were ahead of the issue and planned for England's possible route through the tournament, securing notices in advance. Others are now relying on councils to move quickly, or accepting that they may have to shut before the game finishes.

Pressure grows as demand builds

This is not hard to understand from a business point of view. A World Cup knockout match involving England, scheduled for the early hours, is exactly the kind of event pubs want to capture rather than lose to house parties or unlicensed gatherings.

There is football demand behind it too. Mexico arrive on a five-match winning run, while England's last five results read won three, drew one and lost one. It is a high-interest tie, which only adds to the pressure on councils being asked to sign off late openings.

Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, went further in comments reported by standard.co.uk, calling any refusal "the worst decision since the introduction of hydration breaks". The line is exaggerated, but the frustration in the trade is not. Pubs are being encouraged publicly to open their doors for supporters, while the legal route for doing so depends on local approval and deadlines that have already passed in some cases.

That leaves a pretty obvious conclusion. Ministers want fans inside pubs for England against Mexico, but they have not created an automatic exemption for this 1am kick-off. With the game set for Monday morning, the final call now rests with councils and the pubs that managed to get their paperwork in on time.

FAQ

Can pubs stay open automatically for England vs Mexico at 1am?

No. Ministers have said the existing licensing relaxations do not cover the 1am kick-off for England's World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico. Any later opening depends on local council decisions, and some pubs may need a Temporary Event Notice.

Why are some pubs too late to apply for an England vs Mexico late licence?

Temporary Event Notices must be submitted no later than five working days beforehand. Because of that deadline, some pubs are already out of time to apply for permission to stay open for the 1am match.

What has Steve Reed said about pub opening hours for England vs Mexico?

Steve Reed has urged councils to approve later opening where they can. He said some councils were still saying no to pubs and asked them to do everything possible to get the doors open and fans inside for the overnight kick-off.

Do the current World Cup pub licensing relaxations cover a 1am kick-off?

No. The current relaxations apply to kick-offs from 5pm to 9pm and later games after 9pm up to 10pm, but not to a 1am start. That is why the England vs Mexico game has become a local licensing issue rather than an automatic extension.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 17 outlets. How we work →