London's pubs are open until 5am for England v Mexico: what you need to know

The government has confirmed extended licensing hours for Monday’s World Cup last-16 tie, which kicks off at 1am. Here’s where to watch it and what to expect.

England are through to the last 16 of the World Cup. The bad news is the game is in Mexico City, it kicks off at 1am UK time on Monday morning, and there is almost certainly work later that day. The good news is that London’s pubs are now officially allowed to stay open until 5am, and the whole thing is on the BBC for free.

What happened with the licensing

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It was briefly chaotic. The government initially didn’t extend licensing hours for Monday’s game, meaning pubs would have needed to apply individually for a Temporary Event Notice from their local council, with five working days’ notice required. Given that England only confirmed their last-16 opponents on Wednesday, that was never going to work. Sadiq Khan piled on, urging London boroughs to work with the hospitality industry in the meantime. Then on Thursday evening the government reversed course entirely, using legislative powers to extend licensing hours on the basis that Mexico v England is an event of “exceptional national significance.” Pubs can now legally stay open until 5am.

The practical reality

Kick-off is 1am on Monday 6 July. The match is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, so any pub with a screen and a willing landlord is viable. England will be playing in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, which Thomas Tuchel has called England’s toughest test of the tournament. Mexico haven’t conceded a goal yet. It’ll be a late one whatever happens.

Where to watch it in London

Any pub that’s already confirmed late-night screenings is the obvious choice: the Ardent Pub Group trio of the Cadogan Arms, The George and The Hound are already set up for World Cup viewing, and with extended hours now confirmed they’ll almost certainly be running until the final whistle. Check with your local before heading out as not every venue will be advertising the extension proactively.

If you’d rather watch from home, BBC One and BBC iPlayer have the match live from around 12.30am.

Night Tube services on the Elizabeth line, Northern line, Victoria line, Central line and Jubilee line run through the night on Fridays and Saturdays, which Monday morning technically is, so getting home after the match shouldn’t be the ordeal it might otherwise be.

The London x London Take: Set an alarm, find a pub with a screen, and accept that Tuesday is going to be a write-off. England haven’t been past the last 16 at a World Cup since 2006. This is the one worth losing sleep over.