Pubs in England set to stay open well into the early hours to screen late-night World Cup games next summer – with matches to kick off at 11pm and 2am

Pubs are likely to be permitted to open until the early hours during certain matches involving the Home Nations at next year’s World Cup.

Thanks to the time difference and searing daytime temperatures in host countries the US, Mexico and Canada, games are expected to start at 5pm, 8pm, 11pm and 2am BST.

And with pubs only permitted to open until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 12am or 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays there would appear to be a potential issue for the thousands who want to head out to take in the big match.

On a number of previous occasions the Home Office^[1] have given special dispensation to licenced premises to open later in similar circumstances. And while there has been no official comment, Daily Mail Sport understands that the same stance will be taken next summer should it be needed. It remains unclear, however, if such extended hours would stretch to the 2am kick-offs, with those starting at 11pm most likely to be covered.

England^[2] could qualify later this month should results go their way in Group K. Regardless, their presence at the expanded 48-team tournament is viewed as a formality.

Kick-offs are set to mirror the times that were used at the Club World Cup^[3] this summer.

Pubs are set to be permitted to open until the early hours for next summer’s World Cup, Daily Mail Sport understands

Kick-off times at the tournament are set to be later to aid player welfare after the Club World Cup was beset by heat issues 

That tournament was beset by heat issues, so the marquee matches at the World Cup are set to be in the later slots to aid player welfare.

For example, while the 5pm and 8pm would be the prime time slot for European television audiences, the former kick-off time would equate to a midday kick-off on the east coast of America and the latter would be midday kick-off on the west coast.

Speaking about what the World Cup could learn from the Club World Cup, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani admitted it was ‘kick-off times’.

Elaborating further, he told the Leaders Conference in Twickenham: ‘Kick-off times are always an issue in our region because summers are hot in Canada and US.

‘We’re having conversations daily with European media and other world media, in terms of what’s best and which are the stadiums that you can play at 3pm. That’s all in the mix now.

‘Once the actual schedule comes out after the draw, we will do our best to ensure it’s taken into consideration. Will it be that every game will be absolutely perfect from a kick-off time, from a TV perspective? I don’t know.’

The Club World Cup drew criticism from managers and players who struggled with the soaring temperatures in the United States when they kicked off at midday local time.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique acknowledged this after beating Atletico Madrid 4-0 in a midday kick-off in Los Angeles with temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius under the sun and 60 per cent humidity.

England could seal their place at the tournament later this month

‘The match was clearly influenced by the temperature,’ he said. ‘The time slot is great for European audiences, but the teams are suffering.

‘In terms of play, it’s impossible to perform at a very high level for 90 minutes.’