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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 520
LICENCES AND LICENSING,
ENGLAND AND WALES
The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World
Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026
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 2003(1).
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.
Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent
1.—(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)(2) World Cup 2026 held in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.
(1) 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).
(2) Fédération Internationale de Football Association is an organisation entered in the register of companies under the Swiss civil
code with registered number CHE-107.301.064, and address FIFA-Strasse 20, 8044 Zürich, Switzerland.Document Generated: 2026-06-08
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
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Specified times
2. 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;
(g) the period of two hours beginning at 11 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 9 p.m.
on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;
(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
2Document Generated: 2026-06-08
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
(p) the period of two hours beginning at 11 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.
Licensing hours
3.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), premises licences(3) and club premises certificates(4)
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 hours(5).
(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 entertainment(6).
(4) In relation to the use of premises for the provision of late night refreshment(7), 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.
Sarah Jones
Minister of State
12th May 2026 Home Office
(3) See section 11 of the 2003 Act (c. 17) for the definition of “premises licence”.
(4) See section 60 of the 2003 Act (c. 17) for the definition of “club premises certificate”.
(5) See section 172(5) of the 2003 Act (c. 17) for the definition of “opening hours”.
(6) See paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 1 of the 2003 Act (c. 17) for the definition of “provision of regulated entertainment.
(7) See paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 of the 2003 Act (c. 17) for the definition of “late night refreshment”. Paragraph 1(1) was
amended by section 71 of the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20).
3Document Generated: 2026-06-08
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
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.
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