Pubs to stay open until 5am for England v Mexico as police warn of ‘mayhem’

Police chiefs have been left scrambling to reorganise officer rotas after the Government confirmed that pubs across England and Wales will be permitted to stay open until 5am on Monday for England’s World Cup last-16 tie against hosts Mexico. The Evening Standard reports that forces are having to divert extra officers to the early hours as fans spill out of venues once the final whistle blows.

The showdown at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is scheduled to kick off at 1am BST, with FIFA confirming the original start time will stand despite the threat of thunderstorms that had prompted consideration of moving the match six hours earlier. The prospect of a weather delay, extra time or penalties raises the possibility of supporters emerging onto London’s streets just as early commuters head into work.

Police criticise ‘late announcement’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that pubs would be able to extend their hours for the fixture, but the National Police Chiefs’ Council has criticised the timing of the decision. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC’s lead for football policing, and Acting Chief Constable Scott Green, its lead for alcohol licensing and harm reduction, said in a joint statement that the “late announcement” had forced forces to adapt existing plans, pulling officers onto extended shifts and away from their communities.

The pair added: “We recognise there will be significant public interest in England’s match on Monday morning and that many of the public will want to come together in pubs and licensed venues to enjoy the occasion. We also know from previous tournaments the knock-out games sadly see an increase in violent incidents particularly in the night-time economy and an increase in domestic abuse. This is directly linked to alcohol consumption.”

They continued: “The likely route for England progression has been known for a considerable time yet this late announcement leaves policing having to adapt our plans seeing officers working extended shifts which in turn takes them away from communities. From a policing perspective, our priority is to support people to enjoy the match safely and responsibly. We therefore ask those watching the game to be considerate – drink within sensible limits, and behave in a way that keeps you, your friends, staff, officers and the wider public safe.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the Standard: “We are aware pubs will be allowed to stay open until 05:00hrs on Monday and will have sufficient officers to deal swiftly with any issues or offences. We encourage all football fans to enjoy watching the match safely without causing disruption to others.”

Hundreds of pubs set to open late

Brewery giant Greene King said more than 600 of its pubs across England will stay open late to screen the match, while Marston’s confirmed over 400 of its venues will do the same. The scale of the operation reflects the anticipated demand from fans desperate to watch England’s knockout tie live, despite the unsociable hour.

There are already signs that businesses are bracing for disruption on Monday morning. Data from Gong Labs, a platform that tracks business calls and emails, shows firms have scheduled roughly 30 per cent fewer morning meetings than usual, with chief executive Amit Bendov noting that “early morning meeting cancellations are already running above a typical Monday” as teams shift how they communicate around the fixture.

Unions and business groups are urging employers to show flexibility given the timing of the match. Ros Morgan, chief executive of the Heart of London Business Alliance, which represents more than 500 businesses, said the economy could not afford widespread absenteeism, underlining the balancing act facing workplaces as England’s World Cup run collides with the working week.