FIFA World Cup 2026 licensing relaxations confirmed for England and Wales

Claire Morris, Associate

On 20^th May 2026, we published our second article setting out the arrangements for the men’s FIFA World Cup. Since then, the Government has published the final Order[1] that sets out the precise details of the premises, licensable activities and matches to which the licensing relaxations will apply. This article confirms those details, as they apply to premises licences[2].

General limits and permissions of the World Cup relaxation

As you know, the showing of the World Cup matches is subject to a time difference, meaning that many matches will be played later into the evening and quite likely past the terminal hour for many operators. The purpose of the licensing relaxations is to allow operators in England and Wales to continue trading later during certain matches without having to apply for temporary event notices (TENs).

The relaxations do not apply to all licensable activities or all games:

• The relaxations only apply to qualifying premises in England and Wales.
• The relaxations will not apply to any group stage fixtures.
• The relaxations will apply only when England or Scotland are playing in any of the following knock out rounds: Round of 32; Round of 16; Quarter finals; Semi-finals; Bronze medal match; and Final. To clarify, this means that the extensions do not apply to e.g. the quarter finals, the semi-finals or the final regardless of who plays. Government good will hasn’t stretched that far on this occasion.
• The relaxations only apply to premises already be licensed for on-sales of alcohol in the opening hours immediately preceding or continuing during the extended times i.e. until at least 23:00 on the day of the match. Any venue that isn’t licensed for on-sales until 23:00 that day will not benefit from the extension and they will need to apply for a TEN for the full period.
• Where a premises, suitably authorised for on-sales (as above), is also authorised for late night refreshment after 23:00, then that can also continue similarly under the relaxations.
• The following licensable activities are excluded from the relaxations:
  • Off-sales of alcohol (so, for example, supermarkets and off licences will not benefit from the relaxations).
  • Regulated entertainment
  • Late night refreshment where the premises is not suitably authorised for on-sales of alcohol.
• If you also wish to extend any of the excluded licensable activities, you should consider lodging a temporary event notice (TEN).

Full list of potential matches that benefit from the extensions

We have set out below the full list of potential home nation matches that stand to benefit from the licensing relaxations.  Please note that this list does not include the full list of all home nation football matches – only the ones to which the relaxations will apply.

29^th June 2026 (round 32): where Kick Off (KO) is scheduled to take place at 6pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day; where KO is scheduled to take place at 9.30pm, premises can trade until 2am.

30^th June 2026 (round 32): where KO is scheduled to take place at 10pm, premises can trade until 2am the following day

1^st July 2026 (round 32): where KO is scheduled to take place at 5pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

4^th July 2026 (round 16): where KO is scheduled to take place at 6pm, premises can trade until 1am the following da

4^th July 2026 (round 16): where KO is scheduled to take place at 10pm, premises can trade until 2am the following day

5^th July 2026 (round 16): where KO is scheduled to take place at 9pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

6^th July 2026 (round 16): where KO is scheduled to take place at 8pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

7^th July 2026 (round16): where KO is scheduled to take place at 9pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

9^th July 2026 (quarter final): where KO is scheduled to take place at 9pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

10^th July 2026 (quarter final): where KO is scheduled to take place at 8pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

11^th July 2026 (quarter final): where KO is scheduled to take place at 10pm, premises can trade until 2am the following day

14^th July 2026 (semi final): where KO is scheduled to take place at 8pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

15^th July 2026 (semi final): where KO is scheduled to take place at 8pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

18^th July 2026 (third place play off): where KO is scheduled to take place at 10pm, premises can trade until 2am the following day

19^th July 2026 (final): where KO is scheduled to take place at 8pm, premises can trade until 1am the following day

Any games that are not on the above list will not benefit from a licensing relaxation and you should think about whether you will need a TEN to support your hosting of the event on your premises.

England World Cup games

That above is quite a list and most of our clients have shown particular interest in the England matches.

So, to keep everything in one place, we have set out again below England’s Group L games that will fall outside of the above relaxations and recommend you consider serving a Temporary Event Notice now should you wish to broadcast them:

• England vs Croatia – Wednesday 17 June 2026, kick off 21:00 (UK time)
• England vs Ghana – Tuesday 23 June 2026, kick off 21:00 (UK time)
• Panama vs England – Saturday 27 June 2026, kick off 22:00 (UK time)

Further progression through the tournament could also mean England have matches on several other dates which fall outside the licensing relaxations:

• Group runners-up – Friday 3 July 2026, kick off 00:00 (midnight)
• Round 16 – Monday 6 July, kick off 01:00

Planning your World Cup events

When planning to host World Cup events, we would also encourage operators to have a read through the useful national guidance issued by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).  https://instituteoflicensing.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/World-Cup-2026-Guidance-final.pdf

What if football isn’t coming home after all?

Should England be knocked out, you can always withdraw the TEN and they will be added back on to your allowance (see below).

For further information or assistance with serving TENs, please contact our licensing team on 0161 838 7888.

TENS reminder : restrictions and annual allowances

TENs can only be used when 499 or fewer persons in total are present (this includes customers, staff, performers, security staff etc).

A premises is permitted to have X21 days, and x15 TENs (x5 can be late TENs) per annum.

Personal licence holders can have up to x50 TENS (x10 can be late TENs) per annum.

Non personal licence holders can have up to x5 TENs (x2 can be late TENs) per annum.

A single TEN can last no longer than 168 hours.

There must be at least 24 hours between the end of one TEN and the start of the next.

TENS operating before and concluding after midnight will use two days of the annual allowance.

Standard TEN to be lodged at least x10 clear working days before the TEN event starts.

Late TEN to be lodged x5 – x9 clear working days before the TEN event starts.

Withdraw TEN 24 hours before start of TEN event (days returned to annual allowance but fees are non-returnable).

[1] The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026 – made on 12 May 2026, in force 8 June 2026.

[2] This article does not address arrangements for sites that operate under Club Premises Certificates.