Fans told when UK pubs will close if England vs Norway game is delayed
Fans of England all over the UK are getting together in pubs to watch the World Cup quarter-final between England and Norway, which is set to start at 10pm BST. If everything goes as planned, by midnight we’ll know whether the Three Lions or the Vikings will move on to the semi-finals.
But there’s a chance the game could be delayed because of bad weather in Miami, where the match is taking place. Weather experts have warned that thunderstorms might hit the area. According to FIFA rules, if lightning is spotted within eight miles of the stadium, the game has to stop. Play can only resume at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike, plus an extra 15 minutes for players to warm up again.
This has raised questions about when pubs in England will close, as fans want to make sure they don’t have to leave before the match finishes. Luckily, the UK government has agreed to extend pub opening hours until 30 minutes after the final whistle. So, no matter if there’s a long delay, extra time, or even a penalty shootout, fans in England and Wales can stay and watch every exciting moment at their local pub.
This isn’t the first time the British government has made special plans for World Cup fans. On June 15, Scotland had a bank holiday declared by King Charles III to celebrate the team’s participation in the World Cup. This idea came from Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, to let fans enjoy the big game against Haiti.
Also, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government allowed pubs to stay open until 5am for the round of 16 match against Mexico—a game many fans watched locally as England won an exciting 3-2 match at Azteca Stadium.