Pubs will remain open for England vs Mexico 1am World Cup clash
Pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am for the England vs Mexico World Cup match that kicks off at 1am.
The Three Lions will face Mexico at the Azteca on Sunday after a scrappy win over DR Congo, which will be during the early hours of Monday morning due to time differences.
Confirming the news in a statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Football might be coming home, but we’re making sure fans don’t have to.
"Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together.
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"The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!"
Starmer's decision to relax the rules means that venues will not have to apply for extended hours.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed has written to council leaders informing them of the changes.
Before the announcement, he had earlier urged them to sign off on pubs extending their hours to allow fans to watch to the end of the match, after claiming there were 'still some councils that are saying no to the pubs'.
While some bar staff may be grumbling at the idea of pouring pints until 5am, the decision has largely been a welcome one in the hospitality industry.
"Pubs and fans will be over the moon about this decision, because we all know the best place to watch the match is down the local," Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said.
"This tournament is hugely important for our sector, so we’re delighted the government listened to our concerns and acted so quickly. Now we can carry on being the home of live sport and welcoming fans through the door."
"England’s march towards World Cup glory is something millions of fans want to support," Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, added.
"This very welcome announcement from the government allows those that want to enjoy the game in pubs and other hospitality venues to get together to cheer on our Three Lions."
Brenna Cooper