The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) Order 2026

Specified times E+W

2.— [F1 (1)] For the purposes of article 3, the “specified times” are—

(a) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 29th June 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(b) the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 29th June 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 9.30 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(c) the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 30th June 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(d) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 1st July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 32 is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(e) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 4th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(f) the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 4th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

[F2 (g) the period of seven hours beginning at 10 p.m. on 5th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 1 a.m. on 6th July 2026;]

(h) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 6th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(i) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 7th July 2026, where a match in the tournament knockout stage known as the round of 16 is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(j) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 9th July 2026, where a match in the tournament quarter-final stage is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(k) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 10th July 2026, where a match in the tournament quarter-final stage is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(l) the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 11th July 2026, where a match in the tournament quarter-final stage is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(m) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 14th July 2026, where a match in the tournament semi-final stage is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(n) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 15th July 2026, where a match in the tournament semi-final match is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(o) the period of three hours beginning at 11 p.m. on 18th July 2026, where the tournament third-place play-off match is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match; and

(p) the period of [F3 three] hours beginning at [F4 10 p.m.] on 19th July 2026, where the final match of the tournament is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on that day, provided that a home nation team plays in that match.

[F5 (2) Where the conditions in paragraph (3) are satisfied, the end of the period in sub-paragraphs (l) to (p) of paragraph (1) is extended to the earlier of—

(a) thirty minutes after the conclusion (or abandonment) of the match referred to in the relevant sub-paragraph, or

(b) 12 noon on the day following the day on which the match begins.

(3) The conditions in this paragraph are—

(a) a match referred to in sub-paragraphs (l) to (p) of paragraph (1), has begun in the period starting with the scheduled start time referred to in the relevant sub-paragraph and ending at 12 noon the next day, and

(b) the conclusion of the match is delayed so that the match will not conclude before thirty minutes before the end of the period specified in that sub-paragraph.

(4) Where a match referred to in sub-paragraphs (l) to (p) of paragraph (1) is—

(a) postponed to begin on a day other than the day on which it was scheduled to start (except where the conditions in paragraph (3) are satisfied), or

(b) abandoned and later resumed, or re-played, on a day other than the day on which it was scheduled to start,

the period specified in paragraph (5) is also a “specified time” for the purposes of article 3.

(5) The period specified in this paragraph is the period in relation to the day on which the match is played, resumed or re-played which—

(a) begins—

(i) on a Sunday, at 10 p.m.,

(ii) on all other days, at 11 p.m., and

(b) ends at the later of—

(i) 1 a.m. the following day, or

(ii) thirty minutes after the conclusion of the match referred to in paragraph (4).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Art. 2(1) renumbered as art. 2(1) (11.7.2026) by The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/792), arts. 1(1), 2(2)(a)

F2 Art. 2(g) substituted (4.7.2026) by The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/742), arts. 1(1), 2(2)(a)

F3 Word in art. 2(p) substituted (4.7.2026) by The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/742), arts. 1(1), 2(2)(b)(i)

F4 Word in art. 2(p) substituted (4.7.2026) by The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/742), arts. 1(1), 2(2)(b)(ii)

F5 Art. 2(2)-(5) inserted (11.7.2026) by The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/792), arts. 1(1), 2(2)(b)

Commencement Information

I1 Art. 2 in force at 8.6.2026, see art. 1(1)