Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleKate DevlinThursday 02 July 2026 16:44 BSTCopa Independent | Where does Harry Kane’s talismanic double rank in all-time England World Cup moments?Labour leader Keir Starmer is considering a one-off relaxation of licensing laws to allow pubs to remain open until the early hours for England's World Cup match against Mexico on Monday.The Three Lions' game against Mexico is scheduled to kick off at 1am UK time, falling outside the current extended licensing hours that permit pubs to stay open late for matches starting between 5pm and 10pm.The hospitality industry could benefit significantly from this change, as existing rules for extended hours do not cover such late kick-off times, and it is now too late for pubs to apply for Temporary Event Notices (TENs).Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, has expressed concerns to the government, highlighting that it would be a “crying shame” if pubs could not host such an important match.The previous England match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, which saw England captain Harry Kane secure a spot in the round of 16, attracted a massive audience of 16.3 million viewers across BBC One and iPlayer.In fullStarmer set to allow all pubs to open for England’s 1am World Cup match with MexicoMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in